shiftlessness
Lacking all ambition
Shiftlessness is the quality of being lazy, unmotivated, or lacking ambition.
The word carries moral judgment—a shiftless person isn't just idle but seems unwilling to work or improve their situation: His shiftlessness drove his wife to despair.
The term has an old-fashioned, almost Victorian flavor, suggesting disapproval of those who won't pull their weight.
State of doing nothing
- slothfulnessState of being lazy
- indolenceAversion to activity
- lazinessUnwillingness to exert oneself
- unmotivatedLacking incentive or drive
unambitious · workshy · loafing · slacking · do-nothing · layabout · inactivity · negligent
Without aim or guidance
- purposelessLacking aim or intention
- driftingMoving without purpose
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
- adriftFloating without control
unfocused · meandering · rudderless · goalless · unmoored · lost · unchanneled · undirected
Absence of bias
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- indifferentLacking interest or concern
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
- passiveNot actively participating
listless · unengaged · detached · dispassionate · uninvolved · careless · heedless · incurious
idleness
State of doing nothing
- slothfulnessState of being lazy
- indolenceAversion to activity
- lazinessUnwillingness to exert oneself
unmotivated · unambitious · workshy · loafing · slacking · do-nothing · layabout · inactivity · negligent · neglectful
directionless
Without aim or guidance
- purposelessLacking aim or intention
- driftingMoving without purpose
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
adrift · unfocused · meandering · rudderless · goalless · unmoored · lost · unchanneled · undirected · erratic
disinterest
Absence of bias
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- indifferentLacking interest or concern
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
passive · listless · unengaged · detached · dispassionate · uninvolved · careless · heedless · incurious · uninterested
- nonchalancenonchalance, insouciance, casualness, indifference, unconcern
shiftlessnessindustriousness
Habitual hard work
diligence · assiduousness · hard work · industry · toil
shiftlessnessambition
Desire for achievement
drive · determination · enterprise · purposefulness · aspiration
shiftlessnessdependability
Consistent trustworthy nature
conscientiousness · reliability · responsibility · preparedness · dutifulness
shift, shifted, shifting, shifty, shifts, shiftless, gearshift, shifter, stick shift