1
as in boredom
physical or mental inertness
following a couple of big mistakes early in the game, the team sank into an uncharacteristic listlessness and was never able to recover the lead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restlessness
the state of being bored
we searched desperately for something to jar us out of our listlessness
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3
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
general listlessness is often a side effect of chemotherapy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for listlessness
Noun
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For some, the stakes are high; for others, this is content to be consumed in a moment of boredom.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
30 July 2025 -
However, without enough structured activity, the breed can become restless and turn to destructive behaviors out of boredom.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Kindness may sound like a luxury in today’s high-takes, deliver-faster, do more with less, margin-tighter world—or worse, weakness.—
Jason Walker PsyD,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Several recent economic indicators are pointing in the wrong direction – weakness in second-quarter gross domestic product and slower-than-expected growth in both the manufacturing and services sectors, for example.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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People experiencing more severe infections may also suffer high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, rashes and blood in their urine.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
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Foods high in the amino acid tryptophan (like milk, turkey, chicken, lobster, and certain types of nuts) can also increase lethargy, according to Dr. Ganjhu.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Overworking can actually lead to diminishing returns, where exhaustion causes mistakes and reduces efficiency.—
Kent Ingle,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common symptoms of Valley fever include: Cough Fever Pain in the chest Fatigue or a constant feeling of exhaustion Who is most at risk for Valley fever? Valley fever gets its name from California’s San Joaquin Valley.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ozzy canceled shows, or performed in a stupor, and sometimes attacked his bandmates.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
26 July 2025
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Symptoms of the more serious illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
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To be clear, however, your fatigue probably wouldn’t be isolated to mealtimes if this were the case.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
6 Aug. 2025
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From a physiological point of view, fatigue is associated with a rise in cortisol, the neuromediator that reflects our resilience to emotional or physical stress.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
6 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Listlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listlessness. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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