listless

American

[list-lis] / ˈlɪst lɪs /

adjective

having or showing little or no interest in anything; languid; spiritless; indifferent.

a listless mood;
a listless handshake.

listless British

/ ˈlɪstlɪs /

adjective

disinclined for any effort or exertion; lacking vigour, enthusiasm, or energy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See indifference.

Other Word Forms

listlessly adverb
listlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of listless

First recorded in 1400–50, listless is from the late Middle English word lystles. See list ⁴, -less

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The opening ballad, “Risk It All,” is pretty but listless, with Mr. Mars singing over a gently plucked nylon-string guitar until a relaxed syncopated groove folds in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

A grim run was capped by a listless second-round exit at the US Open weeks later.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026

The Treasury market moved in a listless fashion on Tuesday in response to the U.S. intervention in Venezuela — with traders more focused on a busy calendar week that includes Friday’s jobs report for December.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

In the 2016 interview with Mecurio, Nick said that he was listless and that “I had nothing to fill my time. I had nothing to look forward to.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025

But the cinnamon chow chow that slunk into our house was listless and mewling.

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023