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
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
This coming holiday season, many glasses raised in Hollywood may be filled with spiritless spirits.
—Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Nov. 2022
Fall menu items include libations like the Hummingbird with tennyson black ginger and the Devil Mountain with a spiritless Kentucky 74.
—Amelia Arvesen, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2022
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
This coming holiday season, many glasses raised in Hollywood may be filled with spiritless spirits.
—Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Nov. 2022
Fall menu items include libations like the Hummingbird with tennyson black ginger and the Devil Mountain with a spiritless Kentucky 74.
—Amelia Arvesen, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiritless
Adjective
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When intentionally chosen, the right scent can even shift your mood—lifting you out of a listless haze or helping ease a frantic pace.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Maresca’s post-match insistence that the Frenchman’s struggles are not down to a lack of effort felt as feeble and unconvincing as the sum of his contribution over 45 listless first-half minutes.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Robbins was mostly Black, a place built by Black people who were tired of racial conflict in Chicago.—
D. Watkins,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Was Michelle ever tired of using the vibrator all the time in the show?—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Many said the progressive-sounding program is being pushed by indifferent state leaders and is creating lackadaisical security conditions in already dangerous work environments.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
However, the Knicks’ lackadaisical defense to start the game bit them in the end, as the Spurs’ Sandro Mamukelashvili hit more 3s than vowels in his last name.—
James L. Edwards III,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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King Charles cant get involved in Prince Harrys security woes: author Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of ‘My Mother and I,’ explains why the monarch is too exhausted to deal with his younger son’s ongoing court battle.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Factors like dehydration, sugar crashes, caffeine withdrawal and tolerance, and sleep cycle disruption can actually leave you more exhausted after an energy drink.—
Laura Dorwart,
Verywell Health,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead called the case weak and a deterrent to tech investment in a blog post on Sunday.—
Jody Godoy,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Dell Technologies’ balance sheet appears relatively weak.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The alternating worlds are meant to be playful, but Toontown especially gets exhausting quickly, with characters mugging, clowning and amplifying every limp punchline.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
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Rick grabs Chelsea and runs for help, holding her limp body in his arms.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On Blue Veil, the British composer coaxes earthy tremors from the cello, turning the sound of bow scrapes and resonant harmony into a languid psychic expanse.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
18 Apr. 2025
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His paintings frequently depict flowering trees, grassy fields and blue swimming pools under languid skies.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But in many performances, much of its detail can seem puzzling or pointless—vigorous or languorous notes spinning between the overwhelming climaxes.—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
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Steeped in the pleasantly lazy atmosphere of the title setting, the film is languorous, but not long.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
25 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiritless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiritless. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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