Vocabulary in context
SAT Vocabulary Workbook
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Listless
Tired; sluggish; lifeless
adjectiveCheck this word before you leave
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Imagine This
During the boring lecture, the professor discovered that the hall was lifeless, and he was surprised that most of his students were asleep.
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Sounds Like
LIST-liss
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Looks Like
life-less
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Remember This
The word 'list' in listless comes from Old English lyst, meaning desire or pleasure; 'listless' literally means without desire or energy.
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Other Forms
Listlessnessnoun
Listlesslyadverb
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Connect With
lethargic, sluggish, wan, exhausted, languid
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Note
Use listless to describe a person or thing lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest. Not to be confused with lifeless (completely without life).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- After the long flight, she felt listless and could hardly keep her eyes open.
- The audience grew listless during the speaker's repetitive anecdotes.
Synonyms
sluggishlethargictorpidwanlifeless
Antonyms
energeticvigorousanimated
Etymology
From Old English lyst meaning desire or pleasure, with the suffix -less meaning without; thus 'without desire' = lacking energy or interest.
Mnemonic
LIST LESS: Remember that listless means without desire or interest; picture someone staring at a long to-do list and having it become less and less appealing.
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Expurgate
verbTo remove or cleanse a text of offensive or improper passages, especially by editing or censoring.
Prosaic
adjectiveLacking in imagination or creativity; dull and ordinary in style, especially in writing that resembles prose rather than poetry.
Zealot
nounA person who is fanatically devoted to a religious, political, or other cause; a fanatic.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Lethargic
adjectiveExhausted; sleepy; lacking energy or alertness; slow to move or respond.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
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