indolent

adjective

in·​do·​lent ˈin-də-lənt How to pronounce indolent (audio)
1
a
: averse to activity, effort, or movement : habitually lazy
b
: showing an inclination to laziness
an indolent sigh
c
: conducive to or encouraging laziness
indolent heat
2
a
: causing little or no pain
b
: slow to develop or heal
indolent tumors
indolent ulcers
indolently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of indolent in a Sentence

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
She is indolent and irresponsible. an indolent boy who had to be forced to help out with the chores
Recent Examples on the Web It’s always been a period piece: Its story takes place in the just-post-Kennedy Bronx of Shanley’s childhood, where the rigid Sister Aloysius (Amy Ryan), the principal at St. Nicholas School, vehemently objects to ballpoint pens as one of many insidious gateways to a malign and indolent future. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024 Bates defeated Marilyn Mosby who was never publicly criticized by Scott for her indolent leadership as Baltimore state’s attorney. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2024 Around 22,000 people across the U.S. have a rare chronic condition called indolent systemic mastocytosis. Katie Jennings, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Lukas Matsson is a useful counterpoint to the Roys’ indolent American nepotism, while Andy Ronson casts doubt on the idea that those who profit from the status quo are equipped to change it for the greater good. Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for indolent 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indolent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of indolent was in 1663

Dictionary Entries Near indolent

Cite this Entry

“Indolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indolent. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

indolent

adjective
in·​do·​lent ˈin-də-lənt How to pronounce indolent (audio)
: disliking effort or activity : lazy
the heat made us indolent
indolently adverb

Medical Definition

indolent

adjective
in·​do·​lent ˈin-də-lənt How to pronounce indolent (audio)
1
: causing little or no pain
an indolent tumor
2
a
: growing or progressing slowly
leprosy is an indolent infectious disease
b
: slow to heal
an indolent ulcer
indolence noun

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