as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation
he was spiritless and depressed for weeks after being fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spiritless
The Senators looked spiritless days ago in their building Saturday night ahead of Game 4.
—
Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Amid the spiritless spirits and a bevy of alcohol-free wines, ciders, and beers, luxury sparkling teas are comfortably the most exciting emerging trend in the low and no-alcohol sphere.
—Camille Berry, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Dance sections lacked charm; lyric passages were spiritless; the klezmer episodes in the third movement were strictly goyish.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Yet the club dropped the contest in spiritless fashion, 6-2.
—Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
Lil Wayne is not tolerating spiritless crowds at his shows.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023
The studio setup looks familiar, but the operation itself is spiritless, bearing more resemblance to CNBC’s coverage of the stock market than to the typical sports show, whose belligerent repartee is familiar to anyone who has ever watched a game with friends.
—New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022
That hotel, which opened about a year ago, serves a drink called a Bee’s Knees with a Twist, which costs $19 and includes spiritless gin, lime and honey (cocktails with alcohol range from $21 to $28).
—Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023
Hampered by a spare and spiritless screenplay, Smith gives a performance marked by facial expressions, physical movement and a Haitian accent that struggles to shake its studied quality.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2022
Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Amid the spiritless spirits and a bevy of alcohol-free wines, ciders, and beers, luxury sparkling teas are comfortably the most exciting emerging trend in the low and no-alcohol sphere.
—Camille Berry, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Dance sections lacked charm; lyric passages were spiritless; the klezmer episodes in the third movement were strictly goyish.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Yet the club dropped the contest in spiritless fashion, 6-2.
—Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2023
Lil Wayne is not tolerating spiritless crowds at his shows.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023
The studio setup looks familiar, but the operation itself is spiritless, bearing more resemblance to CNBC’s coverage of the stock market than to the typical sports show, whose belligerent repartee is familiar to anyone who has ever watched a game with friends.
—New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022
That hotel, which opened about a year ago, serves a drink called a Bee’s Knees with a Twist, which costs $19 and includes spiritless gin, lime and honey (cocktails with alcohol range from $21 to $28).
—Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023
Hampered by a spare and spiritless screenplay, Smith gives a performance marked by facial expressions, physical movement and a Haitian accent that struggles to shake its studied quality.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiritless
Adjective
-
The listless Yankees stranded a total of four runners and went 0-for-5 with men in scoring position.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
24 May 2025
-
Game 6 was so confounding because the Celtics just looked listless from the start.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
While infants and toddlers between the ages of 0 to 2 years are more likely to experience a stuffy nose, cough, poor appetite, fussiness, and sleep problems, children between the ages of 3 to 5 years mainly complain of sleepiness, feeling tired during daytime, low energy and dry cough.—
Anuradha Varanasi,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Family members said Jacobs had talked about feeling tired, but not about wanting to take his own life.—
Ames Alexander,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Now then, some angry pundits will excoriate you for being so lackadaisical.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
With over 70 beaches—the most of any Greek island—Milos is a destination for those seeking lackadaisical days spent lounging in and out of cerulean waters.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of them wanted to dance, some spent time with their families, others just looked exhausted.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
-
But now, a quieter trend is taking hold in exhausted households nationwide: revenge meals.—
Christine Michel Carter,
Parents,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Neurologists worried that the urban environment, factory work and office jobs, and other modern pressures were making men tired, indecisive, and physically weak.—
Time,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
Global Blue's weak February European shopper data released on March 5 did indeed work as a catalyst.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Disregard the packet’s rigid instructions — boiling them for exactly two minutes risks either a limp, lifeless tangle or an unpleasantly chewy bite.—
The Learning Network,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
-
If the stalks are limp, rubbery, blemished, or dry and wood-like, and the tips mushy and discolored, then take a pass.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Once Upon a Time in Gaza is fairly tame, even a bit languid, in its opening sequences, until a corrupt cop (Ramzi Maqdisi) barges in to get a piece of Osama’s business.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2025
-
With its sprawling greens and languid creek, Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club is a suitable host for this year’s PGA Championship.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Warfare tells the harrowing story of their rescue in real time—even though much of this movie is constructed from long, languorous takes, the film moves forward in tense fits and starts.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
-
But in many performances, much of its detail can seem puzzling or pointless—vigorous or languorous notes spinning between the overwhelming climaxes.—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiritless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiritless. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share