EN

Synonyms for slothful

  • adjective

Most common

lazy indolent idle torpid

All synonyms

Adjective

1. Lazy — lazy; idle; tending to sloth

lazy, indolent, idle, torpid, sluggish, do-nothing, lackadaisical, inactive, slow, inert, slack, dull, supine, work-shy, remiss, otiose, dronish, lethargic, apathetic, languid, indifferent, phlegmatic

Antonyms

busy, active, hardworking

All antonyms of slothful →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Lazy; idle; tending to sloth.

Choose the right word

Slothful or Indolent?

Slothful belongs in the moral realm, denoting a self-indulgent aversion to exertion. Indolent is a milder term for the same quality; the slothful man hates action; the indolent man loves inaction.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • lazy Tom is by no means unintelligent. He is just lazy.
  • sluggish Mr. Smith ran his sluggish horse along the country roads.
  • indolent Indolent youth creates a begging old age.
  • torpid When it gets cold, the turtles become torpid.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
slothfulrising
lazyrising
sluggishsteady
indolentrising
torpidsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
slow1, lazy2, dull1, idle2
5 letters
slack1, inert2
6 letters
remiss2, supine2, torpid2, otiose3
7 letters
languid2, dronish
8 letters
inactive3, sluggish2, indolent3
9 letters
lethargic3, apathetic4
10 letters
phlegmatic3
11 letters
indifferent3
13 letters
lackadaisical5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (lazy2 = 2 syllables).