idleness
Doing absolutely nothing
Idleness is the state of not working or being active.
It can be neutral—simply having nothing to do—or carry moral weight, suggesting laziness or wasted time: The devil finds work for idle hands.
An engine that idles runs without engaging; idleness in people similarly suggests potential energy going nowhere.
After months of idleness, she was eager to return to work.
Disinclination to exert oneself
- indolenceAversion to activity
- sluggishnessState of slow movement
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
- listlessnessAbsence of energy, enthusiasm
languor · slothfulness · inertia · torpor · lassitude · drowsiness · supineness · loafing
Weary, listless dissatisfaction
- tediumWearisome dullness
- monotonyTiresome lack of change
- dullnessLack of stimulation
- restlessnessState of unease
malaise · weariness · disenchantment · apathy · world-weariness · stagnation · killing time · twiddling thumbs
Complete lack of motion
- dormancySuspended biological activity
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- restCessation of activity
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
halt · standstill · cessation · stagnation · motionlessness · repose · lull · stasis
State of being unwound
- easeLack of strain
- recreationRefreshment through leisure
- free timeUnscheduled personal hours
- spare timeUncommitted personal hours
repose · restfulness · lounge · unwind · siesta · hammock · vacation · holiday
Habitual task avoidance
- delayEnforced waiting period
- deferralAct of delaying action
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- hesitanceUncertainty before acting
putting off · foot-dragging · stalling · time-wasting · dithering · shilly-shallying · wool-gathering · daydreaming
sloth
Disinclination to exert oneself
- indolenceAversion to activity
- sluggishnessState of slow movement
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
listlessness · languor · slothfulness · inertia · torpor · lassitude · drowsiness · supineness · loafing · shirking
ennui
Weary, listless dissatisfaction
restlessness · malaise · weariness · disenchantment · apathy · world-weariness · stagnation · killing time · twiddling thumbs · cabin fever
stillness
Complete lack of motion
- dormancySuspended biological activity
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- restCessation of activity
pause · halt · standstill · cessation · stagnation · motionlessness · repose · lull · stasis · downtime
relaxation
State of being unwound
- easeLack of strain
- recreationRefreshment through leisure
- free timeUnscheduled personal hours
spare time · repose · restfulness · lounge · unwind · siesta · hammock · vacation · holiday · respite
procrastination
Habitual task avoidance
hesitance · putting off · foot-dragging · stalling · time-wasting · dithering · shilly-shallying · wool-gathering · daydreaming
- inactioninaction, passivity, doing nothing, stillness, immobility
- boredomboredom, ennui, tedium, monotony, dullness
- lazinesslaziness, sloth, apathy, lethargy, inertia
- stagnationstagnation, standstill, stasis, deadlock, stalemate
- time usefree time, leisure, downtime, time off, personal time
- inactivityinactivity, sitting, inactive, stillness, immobility
idlenessindustry
Economic production sector
industriousness · diligence · assiduousness · assiduity · perseverance