indolent

adjective

in·​do·​lent ˈin-də-lənt 

1

a

: averse to activity, effort, or movement : habitually lazy

b

: showing an inclination to laziness

an indolent sigh

c

: conducive to or encouraging laziness

indolent heat

2

a

: causing little or no pain

b

: slow to develop or heal

indolent tumors

indolent ulcers

indolently adverb

Synonyms

• idle
• lazy
• shiftless
• slothful

Choose the Right Synonym for indolent

lazy, indolent, slothful mean not easily aroused to activity.

lazy suggests a disinclination to work or to take trouble.

take-out foods for lazy cooks

indolent suggests a love of ease and a dislike of movement or activity.

the heat made us indolent

slothful implies a temperamental inability to act promptly or speedily when action or speed is called for.

fired for being slothful about filling orders

Examples of indolent in a Sentence

Perhaps Henry James's idea of the taste for art in England as a "tribute to propriety" holds perversely true, with the indolent taste for scandal and celebrity having taken hold as a bizarre new form of etiquette. —Sebastian Smee, Prospect, July 2003

At home, however, there's something indolent about listening to a record that offers no hope for the unexpected. —John Milward, Rolling Stone, 11–25 July 1991

Air-conditioning is for the weak and indolent. This isn't the Ritz, you know. Be thankful for a little breeze. It was luxuries like A/C that brought down the Roman Empire. —Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon Days, (1985) 1986

She is indolent and irresponsible.

an indolent boy who had to be forced to help out with the chores

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s always been a period piece: Its story takes place in the just-post-Kennedy Bronx of Shanley’s childhood, where the rigid Sister Aloysius (Amy Ryan), the principal at St. Nicholas School, vehemently objects to ballpoint pens as one of many insidious gateways to a malign and indolent future. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024

Bates defeated Marilyn Mosby who was never publicly criticized by Scott for her indolent leadership as Baltimore state’s attorney. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2024

Around 22,000 people across the U.S. have a rare chronic condition called indolent systemic mastocytosis. —Katie Jennings, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

Lukas Matsson is a useful counterpoint to the Roys’ indolent American nepotism, while Andy Ronson casts doubt on the idea that those who profit from the status quo are equipped to change it for the greater good. —Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin indolent-, indolens insensitive to pain, from Latin in- + dolent-, dolens, present participle of dolēre to feel pain

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

indolent

adjective

in·​do·​lent ˈin-də-lənt 

: disliking effort or activity : lazy

the heat made us indolent

indolently adverb

Medical Definition

indolent

adjective

in·​do·​lent ˈin-də-lənt 

1

: causing little or no pain

an indolent tumor

2

a

: growing or progressing slowly

leprosy is an indolent infectious disease

b

: slow to heal

an indolent ulcer

indolence

-lənt(t)s 

noun