1
as in inertia
an inclination not to do work or engage in activities
the brothers' innate idleness meant that neither did much, either inside or outside their ramshackle cabin
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2
as in inaction
lack of action or activity
a day spent in idleness is nice, but a month of doing nothing is boring!
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3
as in neglect
lack of use
the idleness of the machine was apparent by its thick layer of dust
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idleness
Noun
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For all of India’s strides, bureaucratic inertia and corruption often stifle innovation and enterprise.—
Robert C. Wolcott,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025 -
The power of inertia and fear of a high-risk nominee kept Democrats from confronting Biden far more than any scheme by his family or palace guard.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Accusations of inaction During the trial, advocacy groups have accused health authorities of inaction after they were notified as soon as 2005 of Le Scouarnec’s conviction for possessing child pornography pictures.—
Nicolas Vaux-Montagny,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
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The human cost of inaction Victims of these scams often lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, urban poverty deepened, and some Black tenants accused Jewish landlords of neglect or profiteering — charges that sparked anger and occasionally violence in places like Chicago’s Lawndale and Newark’s Central Ward.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2025
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The resulting breakdown is one of the series' most painful moments, with Pacey begging for answers to a lifetime of neglect.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Noun
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The idea of Irish indolence fused with a quasi-religious faith in the laws of the market to shape the British response to the famine.—
Fintan O'Toole,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
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The idea of Irish indolence fused with a quasi-religious faith in the laws of the market to shape the British response to the famine.—
Fintan O'Toole,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Many vineyards fell into disuse and were abandoned during Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 until December 1933.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
3 June 2025
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Muscle weakness can occur due to age, disuse or because of medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis or ALS.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
Noun
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The abandonment of past constraints like the Conrad Rule has created a loophole, enabling legislators to use reconciliation to enact policies that could harm the nation’s fiscal outlook, simply by demonstrating fiscal impact.—
Doug Criscitello,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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The Women’s Comprehensive Care Window offers psychological counseling, legal assistance, referral to shelters and specialized services for women facing violence, discrimination or abandonment.—
Alicia G Kerber Palma,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Idleness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idleness. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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