listlessness

American

[list-lis-nis] / ˈlɪst lɪs nɪs /

noun

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

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

See Examples For:

listlessness

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

The snappy script pokes fun at the friends’ delusions, connecting them to a listlessness born of extreme privilege.

From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2023

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

His rage cooled quickly, and the transports of ire gave way to the listlessness of despair.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

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