listlessness

American  

[list-lis-nis] / ˈlɪst lɪs nɪs /

noun

1. the state or condition of having little or no interest in anything.

   When overwhelmed by trauma, you can fall into a state of torpor or listlessness, where you can't even bring yourself to care that you don't care anymore.

---

Etymology

Origin of listlessness

listless ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

The sight of so many Newcastle players jogging back as goalscorer Adrien Truffert drifted into the box undetected in the 85th minute summed up the listlessness that has gripped them.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

It wasn’t until after “Suits” wrapped, and pandemic-forced listlessness set in, that Korsh felt motivated to explore the idea on the page.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2025

If they only attend private schools and all their peers expect to inherit, they might suffer from Rory Gilmore’s listlessness.

From Slate • Jan. 17, 2023

The listlessness extends to Black, Latino and younger voters, as well as suburban swing voters.

From New York Times • May 8, 2022

We had hiked twenty-two miles in two days—a highly respectable distance for us—but a distinct listlessness and sense of anticlimax, a kind of midmountain lassitude, had set in.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson