Indolent Definition: Habitually Lazy & How to Use It

Meaning 1：habitually lazy (indolent)

indolent 🔊

/ˈɪndələnt/

adj.

Not wanting to work or make any effort; very lazy.

Indolent person lying on couch, lazy posture illustration

habitually lazy 🔊

➕

/həˈbɪtʃuəli ˈleɪzi/

adj.

Describes a person who avoids physical or mental effort due to inherent laziness, often preferring inactivity.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Latin 'in-' (not) + 'dolere' (feel pain) -> originally 'insensitive', later 'lazy'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'in-dole': 'in' means not, 'dole' means sadness; too lazy to even feel sad.

📖 Example

After the large meal, he felt too indolent to clear the table, choosing to lie on the sofa instead. 🔊 After the large meal, he felt too indolent to clear the table, choosing to lie on the sofa instead.

🔗 Collocations

indolent lifestyle – a way of life marked by laziness and avoidance of effort

indolent student – a student who is habitually lazy and avoids studying

indolent behavior – actions characterized by idleness and lack of motivation

🔄 Synonyms

lazy (adj.) – unwilling to work or use energy

idle (adj.) – avoiding work, inactive

slothful (adj.) – characterized by sloth; lazy and slow

🚫 Antonyms

industrious (adj.) – hardworking and diligent

diligent (adj.) – showing careful and persistent effort

energetic (adj.) – active and full of energy

🌱 Derivatives

indolence (n.) – the quality of being lazy

indolently (adv.) – in a lazy manner

indolentness (n.) – the state of being indolent

📖 Cultural Story

From Latin 'indolentem' (not feeling pain). Initially used for painless tumors, it shifted in the 18th century to describe a painless lack of effort, i.e., laziness.