indolent
IN-duh-luhnt
/ˈɪndələnt/
Habitually lazy and avoiding activity or exertion.
Describes a comfortable, easygoing disposition to avoid pain or hard labor.
The story behind the word. Originally a medical term in late Latin, 'indolens' meant 'painless' or 'feeling no pain.' By the 17th century, the sense shifted from avoiding physical pain to avoiding any physical effort or discomfort whatsoever.
Word relationships
- idle: Idle describes simply not working right now, while indolent implies a habitual dislike of effort.
- lazy: Lazy is common and general; indolent is more formal and carries a sense of peaceful avoidance of exertion.
- industrious: Industrious describes someone who works hard and consistently.
- diligent: Diligent indicates careful and steady effort.
Commonly confused with
- insolent: Insolent means rude or disrespectful, whereas indolent means lazy.
Word family
- indolence (noun): Avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.
- indolently (adverb): In a lazy or idle manner.
Collocations
- indolent lifestyle
- indolent youth
- indolent nature
Idioms & expressions
- bone-lazy
- sitting on one's hands
Example sentences
- "An indolent summer afternoon called for nothing more strenuous than lemonade and shade." Literature citation
- "His indolent behavior at the office ultimately led to his termination." Character description
Memory hook
IN-DOLENT: Someone who feels IN-DULGENT when doing zero effort because it causes no pain. No pain, no gain — prefers no pain.
When not to use
Do not use to describe temporary fatigue from physical exercise.
Fun facts
- In medicine, an 'indolent tumor' still refers to a slow-growing condition that causes little to no pain.
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