Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lackadaisical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lackadaisical are languid, languorous, listless, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.

lackadaisical college seniors pretending to study

Where would languid be a reasonable alternative to lackadaisical?

The meanings of languid and lackadaisical largely overlap; however, languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.

was depressed and languid for weeks after surgery

In what contexts can languorous take the place of lackadaisical?

Although the words languorous and lackadaisical have much in common, languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.

languorous cats lying in the sun

When is listless a more appropriate choice than lackadaisical?

While the synonyms listless and lackadaisical are close in meaning, listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom.

listless hospital patients
listless children flipping through picture books on a rainy day

When could spiritless be used to replace lackadaisical?

While in some cases nearly identical to lackadaisical, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.

a spiritless recital of the poem

Examples 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 lackadaisical There seemed to be a lackadaisical effort, which allowed for the Oklahoma defender to catch the pass unaffected. Kennington Smith Iii, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 Atlanta can’t afford to enter this Sunday’s divisional matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a lackadaisical approach. Fox News Staff, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024 One of the interceptions came on a lackadaisical screen play. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2024 Again, the lackadaisical approach doesn’t work for everyone. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lackadaisical 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lackadaisical
Adjective
  • The Warriors concluded a six-game homestand with another listless effort.
    Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Both are unemployed with little opportunity in sight, pitted against each other in a constantly bickering home, and listless about it all.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • People are tired of prescribed approaches to their work.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
  • In Germany in the early 1930s, many people were tired of violence, uncertainty, and a failing economy and hoped that a strong leader would heed their concerns and come up with new and effective solutions to bring better and calmer days.
    Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Ghia Le Spritz Variety 12-Pack $145 Ghia A wanderlust-inducing coffee table book Il Dolce Far Niente, or the sweetness of doing nothing, is effortlessly captured in this mesmerizing photo book cataloging a languorous Italian summer by Lucy Laucht.
    Sophie Dodd, Bon Appétit, 11 Dec. 2024
  • That’s why a noirish tenor sax snakes through the suite’s middle (played with languorous sensuality by PRISM Quartet’s Timothy McAllister), set to a lyre-like harp accompaniment.
    Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • 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
Adjective
  • Punctuated by languid guitar lines, this sadder-than-sad gem creates the perfect backdrop for her gorgeous voice to shine through.
    Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Here, long, languid meals have a habit of turning into heady (and nerdy) chats with staffers about sourcing and sustainability or special visits to the gardens or impromptu tastings in the wine cellar.
    Nicholas DeRenzo, AFAR Media, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Trujillo said the crews were exhausted but proud of their work.
    Fox News, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The animals are nervous, exhausted, aggressive and bewildered by this alarming change to their routine.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Of Vegas’ last eight games, six were at home and all eight were against some of the league’s weakest teams.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • China’s persistently low consumer inflation indicates that China is struggling with weak domestic demand, stoking fears of deflation.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • January is typically the sleepiest month on the MLB calendar, and the New York Yankees likely won’t disturb slumber much.
    Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • When the sun goes down, the South Shore of Lake Tahoe is not a sleepy town.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 6 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near lackadaisical

Cite this Entry

“Lackadaisical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lackadaisical. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lackadaisical

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