Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort; lethargic.
  • adjective Characterized by a lack of energy or interest.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Indifferent to or taking no interest in what happens about one; languid and unheeding: as, a listless hearer or spectator.
  • Marked by languid inactivity; manifesting relaxed attention; inanimate: as, a listless attitude.
  • Synonyms Listless, Careless, Supine, Indolent. The listless and the careless do not care or desire; the supine and the indolent do not care enough to conquer their shrinking from activity or work. The words may all indicate a temporary state or a permanent element of character; indolent generally indicates the latter. (See idle.) Careless is not caring; supine is literally lying flat on one's back, not rousing one's self at all, ignobly indifferent; listless, indifferent and languid. Listless does not necessarily imply blame.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Having no desire or inclination; indifferent; heedless; spiritless.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective marked by low spirits; showing no enthusiasm
  • adjective lacking zest or vivacity

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English listles : probably from liste, desire (from listen, to desire; see list) + -les, -lesse, -less.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From list + -less.

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Examples

Comments

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  • Those of us on Wordie who have or show no interest in making lists.

    October 26, 2007

  • So true. I always feel like a bit of a parasite, but the comments are so much more fun and low-stress.

    October 26, 2007

  • This word is a fraud. 29 lists prove it.

    July 5, 2008