as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation
he was spiritless and depressed for weeks after being fired
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Recent Examples of spiritless
The Senators looked spiritless days ago in their building Saturday night ahead of Game 4.
—
Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Amid the spiritless spirits and a bevy of alcohol-free wines, ciders, and beers, luxury sparkling teas are comfortably the most exciting emerging trend in the low and no-alcohol sphere.
—Camille Berry, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
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
Lil Wayne is not tolerating spiritless crowds at his shows.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023
The studio setup looks familiar, but the operation itself is spiritless, bearing more resemblance to CNBC’s coverage of the stock market than to the typical sports show, whose belligerent repartee is familiar to anyone who has ever watched a game with friends.
—New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022
That hotel, which opened about a year ago, serves a drink called a Bee’s Knees with a Twist, which costs $19 and includes spiritless gin, lime and honey (cocktails with alcohol range from $21 to $28).
—Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023
Hampered by a spare and spiritless screenplay, Smith gives a performance marked by facial expressions, physical movement and a Haitian accent that struggles to shake its studied quality.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2022
Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Amid the spiritless spirits and a bevy of alcohol-free wines, ciders, and beers, luxury sparkling teas are comfortably the most exciting emerging trend in the low and no-alcohol sphere.
—Camille Berry, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
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
Lil Wayne is not tolerating spiritless crowds at his shows.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 15 May 2023
The studio setup looks familiar, but the operation itself is spiritless, bearing more resemblance to CNBC’s coverage of the stock market than to the typical sports show, whose belligerent repartee is familiar to anyone who has ever watched a game with friends.
—New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022
That hotel, which opened about a year ago, serves a drink called a Bee’s Knees with a Twist, which costs $19 and includes spiritless gin, lime and honey (cocktails with alcohol range from $21 to $28).
—Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023
Hampered by a spare and spiritless screenplay, Smith gives a performance marked by facial expressions, physical movement and a Haitian accent that struggles to shake its studied quality.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiritless
Adjective
-
But more than any event other than the multiple indictments, DeSantis’s White House bid lit a fire under Trump and his initially listless campaign.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
2 July 2025
-
Mackey, raven-haired and listless in a bikini top and cigarette in hand, is camera-genic enough to make for an appealing heroine.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Already, 47% of clinicians report that being tired has impacted their abilities to treat patients.—
Victoria Feng,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
His legs are going to be a little tired, as to be expected.—
Roderick Boone
Updated July 11,
Charlotte Observer,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Former Memphis assistant Scoonie Penn recalled Brooks delivering a hard foul during a lackadaisical practice.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
-
With so much to do, and with a lackadaisical sense of urgency, each area is filled with gleeful distractions.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Pop music, like the rest of American society, has reached the exhausted endpoint of the taboo-litigation mania that’s marred the past decade of our national life.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
25 July 2025
-
You’re exhausted in the morning and energized by the afternoon.—
Kelly Stiefel Arias,
Kansas City Star,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
This weak cash generation capability raises questions about the company’s ability to fund growth investments and return capital to shareholders.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
Witness the rally in the railroads last week that crushed shorts banking on weaker transport earnings.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Sophie ends the call before pushing Kyle’s limp body over the side of the cliff.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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So, if a shark goes limp in one of these spots, especially upside down, it could get stuck or injured.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
At its heart lies a cauldron-style swimming pool, softly lit by floating lanterns and flanked by royal loungers that invite hours of languid repose.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
Keep to the languid vibe alive with beaded jewelry and something crochet.—
Kerry Pieri,
Vogue,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Summer ’25 is all about languorous mornings and late afternoon bike rides with fresh baguettes in the basket.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
The film moves at the languorous speed of a humid summer day.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiritless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiritless. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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