Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

listless

/ˈlɪstlɪs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.53 in modern English

Syllables: list-less
IPA: /ˈlɪstlɪs/

8

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness.

Example Sentences

"I passed whole days on the lake alone in a little boat, watching the clouds, and listening to the rippling of the waves, silent and listless."
"What an entirely different set of beings were those Stokesley children in lesson-time. . . . Poor, listless, stolid, deplorable logs, with bowed backs and crossed ankles, pipy voices and heavy eyes!"
"The scene with Mrs. Wallace had broken his spirit, and he was listless now, indifferent to what happened."
"“Listless, inattentive, distracted,” he recited. “A daydreamer. Tries his best, but is too slow.”"

Etymology

From Middle English lystles, equivalent to list (“desire”) + -less. Compare German lustlos and Dutch lusteloos (“lethargic, listless”). Doublet of lustless.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: lystles
Suffix: list

Inflected Forms

more listless (comparative) most listless (superlative)

Derived Forms

listlessly listlessness

Synonyms

languid spiritless adiaphroistic apathetic apathistical blasé blithe deaf cool shiftless dispassionate dull

Questions

How do you pronounce listless?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlɪstlɪs/.
What does listless mean?: Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness.
Where does listless come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce listless

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “listless”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈlɪstlɪs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “listless”.
Repeat and practice — Say “listless” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.