indolent

adjective in·do·lent \ˈin-də-lənt\

: not liking to work or be active

Full Definition of INDOLENT

a : causing little or no pain

b : slow to develop or heal <indolent tumors> <indolent ulcers>

a : averse to activity, effort, or movement : habitually lazy

b : conducive to or encouraging laziness <indolent heat>

c : showing an inclination to laziness <an indolent sigh>

— in·do·lent·ly adverb

See indolent defined for English-language learners

See indolent defined for kids

Examples of INDOLENT

Perhaps Henry James's idea of the taste for art in England as a “tribute to propriety” holds perversely true, with the indolent taste for scandal and celebrity having taken hold as a bizarre new form of etiquette. —Sebastian Smee, Prospect, July 2003
At home, however, there's something indolent about listening to a record that offers no hope for the unexpected. —John Milward, Rolling Stone, 11–25 July 1991
Air-conditioning is for the weak and indolent. This isn't the Ritz, you know. Be thankful for a little breeze. It was luxuries like A/C that brought down the Roman Empire. —Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon Days, (1985) 1986
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Origin of INDOLENT

Late Latin indolent-, indolens insensitive to pain, from Latin in- + dolent-, dolens, present participle of dolēre to feel pain

First Known Use: 1663

Related to INDOLENT

Synonyms: idle, lazy, shiftless, slothful

Antonyms: industrious

Synonym Discussion of INDOLENT

lazy, indolent, slothful mean not easily aroused to activity. lazy suggests a disinclination to work or to take trouble <take-out foods for lazy cooks>. indolent suggests a love of ease and a dislike of movement or activity <the heat made us indolent>. slothful implies a temperamental inability to act promptly or speedily when action or speed is called for <fired for being slothful about filling orders>.

INDOLENT Defined for Kids