listlessness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “listlessness” mean?
A state of lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A state of lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest; a feeling of weariness and indifference.
A prolonged state of mental and physical lethargy, often stemming from boredom, depression, or a lack of purpose, manifesting as an inability or unwillingness to engage with one's surroundings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The base adjective 'listless' is used identically.
Connotations
Slightly more literary in both varieties. In American usage, it may be more readily associated with clinical descriptions of depression or malaise.
Frequency
Low-frequency in everyday speech for both, but marginally more common in British literary and descriptive prose.
Grammar
How to Use “listlessness” in a Sentence
[Subject]'s listlessnesslistlessness caused by [noun]listlessness descended upon [person/place]a listlessness that [verb phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “listlessness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - No verb form. The related adjective is 'listless'.
American English
- N/A - No verb form. The related adjective is 'listless'.
adverb
British English
- N/A - The adverb 'listlessly' exists. He wandered listlessly around the flat.
- She stared listlessly at the television.
American English
- N/A - The adverb 'listlessly' exists. The cat lay listlessly in the sun.
- They listlessly scrolled through their phones.
adjective
British English
- She gave a listless shrug and returned to staring out the window.
- The heat left everyone feeling utterly listless.
American English
- He was listless for weeks after the news.
- A listless performance from the home team disappointed the fans.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May be used in HR or management contexts to describe concerning employee disengagement, e.g., 'The team's listlessness was affecting productivity.'
Academic
Used in psychology, literature, and sociology to describe a state of mind or social mood, e.g., 'The novel explores the listlessness of post-industrial society.'
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Might be used for deliberate, descriptive effect, e.g., 'I can't shake this summer listlessness.'
Technical
In clinical psychology/medicine, a possible symptom of depressive disorders, anaemia, or chronic fatigue syndromes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “listlessness”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “listlessness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “listlessness”
- Misspelling as 'listlesness' (dropping a 't').
- Confusing it with 'recklessness'.
- Using it as an adjective (it's a noun; the adjective is 'listless').
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'tiredness' or 'boredom' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Tiredness is often physical and temporary. Listlessness is a more prolonged state of mental and physical lethargy linked to a lack of interest or enthusiasm.
Yes. In medical contexts, persistent listlessness can be a symptom of conditions like depression, anaemia, chronic fatigue, or certain vitamin deficiencies.
They are closely related. Apathy is a lack of feeling or emotion, particularly concern. Listlessness is the physical and behavioural manifestation of that apathy—the lethargy and lack of energy that results from it.
It is pronounced /ˈlɪst.ləs.nəs/. The 't' in 'list' is pronounced, followed by 'ləs' (like 'less'), and then 'nəs' (like 'ness'). The stress is on the first syllable: LIST-luhs-nuhs.
A state of lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest.
Listlessness is usually formal, literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms for the noun. Related concept: 'The blahs']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LIST' + LESS + NESS. Imagine someone so 'listless' they can't even be bothered to make a to-do LIST. The NESS turns the adjective into a state of being.
Conceptual Metaphor
LISTLESSNESS IS A HEAVY WEIGHT / A CLOUD / A DULL PAIN / STAGNANT WATER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'listlessness' in a literary context?