Sloth: A Dictionary for the Lazy Read online

  (FID-l)

  VERB: To waste time; to move one’s hands or fingers in a nervous manner; as a noun it’s a stringed musical instrument in the same family as the violin or to play that instrument.

  fixed

  (fikst)

  ADJECTIVE: Stationary; as a verb it means to put something into order or to prearrange the outcome of something that should be random (as in fixing a horse race).

  flop

  (flop)

  VERB: To plop down on something in a careless, tired fashion; informally, it can mean to stay at someone’s house—to crash; to fail; to change one’s mind rather unexpectedly.

  Once she arrived home, she would FLOP onto the couch and wait for dinner to be brought to her.

  Idleness and lack of occupation tend—nay are dragged—towards evil.

  —HIPPOCRATES

  foot-dragger

  (foot-DRAG-er)

  NOUN: Literally, one who drags his or her feet in order to do anything; idler.

  footle

  (FOOT-l)

  VERB: To behave foolishly; to waste time, usually used with “about” or “around.”

  freeloader

  (FREE-lohd-er)

  NOUN: One who relies on others for his or her basic needs, including food and shelter, without the intention of paying them back.

  frowzy

  (FROU-zee)

  ADJECTIVE: Shabby or unkempt

  The FROWZY girl hadn’t combed her hair in days; her dress was shabby and her shoes were untied.

  fruitless

  (FROOT-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Unproductive; an activity or thing that produces no results.

  futile

  (FYOOT-tyl)

  ADJECTIVE: Pointless; ineffective.

  futz

  (fuhts)

  VERB: To waste in an aimless or lazy manner.

  It was not unlike him to FUTZ about the house with meaningless projects when there was work to be done.

  G

  gadabout

  (GAD-uh-bout)

  NOUN: One who wanders around without purpose, often in the pursuit of something pleasurable.

  Philip was such a GADABOUT; roaming town to town looking for the best pub and most beautiful women in each new place.

  gainless

  (GAYN-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without profit or results.

  gape

  (gayp)

  VERB: To widely open one’s mouth due to sleepiness; yawn.

  gauche

  (gohsh)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking the wherewithal to behave properly in social situations.

  gestate

  (JES-tayt)

  VERB: To generate and develop slowly.

  Failure is not the only punishment for laziness; there is also

  the success of others.

  —JULES RENARD

  give up

  (giv uhp)

  VERB: To stop putting forth an effort; to admit defeat.

  glacial

  (GLAY-shuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Characterized by the pace of a glacier’s movement; slow.

  glaze (over)

  (glayz OH-ver)

  VERB: To become glassy or lacking expression, usually out of boredom.

  glob

  (glob)

  NOUN: A lump of a moldable substance.

  gluteus

  (GLOO-tee-uhs)

  NOUN: Any of the muscles of the buttocks.

  goalless

  (gohl-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without goals; aimless.

  goldbrick

  (GOHLD-brik)

  NOUN: A shirker; a worthless thing that appears valuable.

  good-for-nothing

  (GOOD-fer-nuhth-ing)

  NOUN: Self-explanatorily, a person who does not bring value to any situation. Can also be used as an adjective to describe a worthless person.

  goof-off

  (GOOF-awf)

  NOUN: Can be used as a noun or adjective in reference to a person who does not channel his or her energy toward any worthwhile endeavor; a slacker.

  groggy

  (GROG-ee)

  ADJECTIVE: Dazed; sleepy, sometimes as the result of exposure to a physical or mental stimulus like alcohol.

  The brandy she drank left her GROGGY; she was so compromised that she felt unable to communicate or try to get home.

  H

  halfhearted

  (haf-HAHR-tid)

  ADJECTIVE: Without enthusiasm.

  hang

  (hang)

  VERB: Slang for spending time in a casual, relaxed manner; as in “hang out.”

  heavy-eyed

  (HEV-ee-ayed)

  ADJECTIVE: Drowsy, tired; barely able to keep one’s eyes open due to exhaustion.

  hebetude

  (HEB-ih-tood)

  NOUN: A state of laziness or indolence.

  Caught up in the HEBETUDE following the afternoon meal, it was clear no one would move or clean the dishes for several hours.

  heedless

  (HEED-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Uncaring or thoughtless; without regard.

  hibernation

  (HY-ber-nay-shuhn)

  NOUN: Though often used in reference to animals, it’s a period of time in which a person or animal becomes dormant.

  hibernator

  (HY-ber-nay-ter)

  NOUN: One who hibernates.

  Indolence is a delightful but distressing state; we must be doing something to be happy.

  —MAHATMA GANDHI

  I

  idleness

  (AYED-l-nis)

  NOUN: Unproductiveness; a state of inactivity.

  immobility

  (im-oh-BIL-ih-tee)

  NOUN: Not moving; remaining still.

  She appeared stricken with IMMOBILITY, though it was evident she was able to move freely as she wished.

  impassive

  (im-PAS-iv)

  ADJECTIVE: Emotionless; apathetic; calm.

  impervious

  (im-PUR-vee-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Not able to penetrate; unaffected; resistant.

  impotent

  (IM-puh-tuhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking strength or ability; the word often used in reference to a man’s sexual debility.

  improvident

  (im-PROV-i-duhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Someone who is not sensible, particularly in regard to financial planning for the future.

  imprudent

  (im-PROOD-nt)

  ADJECTIVE: Without care of forethought; reckless.

  It would be considered IMPRUDENT of you to drive after consuming so much alcohol.

  inaction

  (in-AK-shuhn)

  NOUN: Choosing to do nothing when some sort of action is required.

  inactivity

  (in-AK-tiv-ah-tee)

  NOUN: A state where something is not active; idleness

  inadvertence

  (in-uhd-VUR-tns)

  NOUN: Heedlessness or lack of attention; an oversight.

  inane

  (ih-NAYN)

  ADJECTIVE: Senseless or meaningless; absurd.

  inanition

  (in-uh-NISH-uhn)

  NOUN: Lack of energy, sometimes in reference to a state of exhaustion as a result of illness or lack of sustenance; lethargy.

  inattentive

  (in-uh-TEN-tiv)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking attentiveness; careless.

  inconsequential

  (in-kon-si-KWEN-shuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Without consequence or importance; insignificant.

  It was so INCONSEQUENTIAL to him what he ate for dinner that eventually he just stopped ordering altogether.

  incurious

  (in-KYOOR-ee-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Lack of curiosity; disinterested.

  indifferent

  (in-DIF-er-uhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking in care of concern; apathetic; uncaring.

  indisposition

  (in-dis-puh-ZZISH-uhn)

>   NOUN: Disinclination or reluctance.

  indolent

  (IN-dl-uhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Lazy or lethargic; conducive to sluggishness.

  ineffective

  (in-ih-FEK-tiv)

  ADJECTIVE: Without results; incompetent.

  inept

  (in-NEPT)

  ADJECTIVE: Incompetent; lacking ability or skill.

  She was completely INEPT at teaching, so she just allowed the students to roam around and find their own lessons.

  inert

  (ih-NURT)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking the ability to move at all or moving very slowly; motionless.

  inexpressive

  (in-ik-SPRES-iv)

  ADJECTIVE: Unable to express oneself; impassive.

  ingrate

  (IN-grayt)

  NOUN: Someone who is ungrateful or inconsiderate.

  innocuous

  (ih-NOK-yoo-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Inoffensive; harmless.

  Will was so bland and unwilling to get involved in conflict of any sort that everything he said was INNOCUOUS.

  inoperative

  (in-OP-er-uh-tiv)

  ADJECTIVE: No longer operating as it should.

  insensate

  (in-SEN-sayt)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking the ability to feel sympathy or compassion; numb.

  insensible

  (in-SEN-suh-buhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Unconscionable; devoid of feeling or sensation.

  Far from idleness being the root of all evil, it is rather the only true good.

  —SøREN KIERKEGAARD

  insipid

  (in-SIP-id)

  ADJECTIVE: Uninteresting; dull; the word comes from Latin of “without taste.”

  insouciance

  (in-SOO-see-uhns)

  NOUN: Indifferent; being without a care in the world.

  Her INSOUCIANCE began to wear on him as he realized she would never care as much about anything as he did.

  irreligious

  (ir-ih-LIJ-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Ungodly; one who does not subscribe to any religious faith or practices.

  irresolute

  (ih-REZ-uh-loot)

  ADJECTIVE: Not firm or confident in making commitments or decisions; indecisive.

  A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury.

  —John Stuart Mill

  J

  jaded

  (JAY-did)

  ADJECTIVE: Bored with something or indifferent toward it because of overexposure or overindulgence.

  Tired of working long hours with no reward, Sylvie’s attitude about her emplyoyer became more and more JADED as the days progressed.

  jejune

  (ji-JOON)

  ADJECTIVE: Immature or unsophisticated; sophomoric.

  jelly

  (JEL-ee)

  NOUN: Anything that has a soft, semisolid consistency.

  joblessness

  (JOB-lis-nis)

  NOUN: Being without employment.

  joyless

  (JOY-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without cheer; unhappy.

  K

  kept

  (kept)

  ADJECTIVE: Maintained and financed by another.

  kibosh

  (KAY-bosh)

  NOUN: The act of putting a stop to something or ceasing an activity.

  Simon quickly put the KIBOSH on any activity that required him to wake up early.

  kick up (one’s) feet

  (kik uhp wuhnz feet)

  VERB: To relax.

  kip

  (kip)

  NOUN: A British slang term meaning sleep or a place to sleep.

  knackered

  (NAK-erd)

  ADJECTIVE: A British slang term meaning extremely exhausted.

  He that is busy it tempted by but one devil; he that is idle, by a legion.

  —THOMAS FULLER

  L

  lackadaisical

  (lk-uh-DAY-zi-kuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Lazy; unenthusiastic in one’s actions.

  lackluster

  (LAK-luhs-ter)

  ADJECTIVE: Uninspiring; dull.

  lag

  (lag)

  VERB: To fall behind; the move slower than the rest.

  laggard

  (LAG-erd)

  NOUN OR ADJECTIVE: Used as both a noun or adjective in reference to someone who cannot keep up.

  laidback

  (layd-BAK)

  ADJECTIVE: Having a carefree disposition; unhurried.

  laissez-faire

  (les-ey-FAIR)

  ADJECTIVE: Refraining from interfering in others’ business.

  She was a huge proponent of LAISSEZ-FAIRE parenting; if the children were in need or in trouble, they would figure it out for themselves.

  lallygag

  (LAH-lee-gag)

  VERB: To waste time or loiter, often having fun while doing it.

  languidness

  (LANG-gwid)

  NOUN: An unhurried or leisurely manner.

  His LANGUIDNESS made him unapologetically late to most social functions.

  languor

  (LANG-ger)

  NOUN: Lacking in energy; listlessness, but often in a pleasant way.

  lassitude

  (LAS-i-tood)

  NOUN: A state of listlessness or weariness; lethargy.

  lax

  (laks)

  ADJECTIVE: Loose and not easily controlled; unmanageable.

  layabout

  (LAY-uh-bout)

  NOUN: A lazy or idle person; loafer.

  laze

  (layz)

  VERB: To lounge around without worry.

  On most days he would LAZE about the house, moving as little as possible before she came home from work.

  lazy

  (LAY-zee)

  ADJECTIVE: Reluctant to do work or exert any energy; idle.

  lazybones

  (LAY-zee-bohnz)

  NOUN: An idler; someone with a severe lack of ambition.

  leaden

  (LED-n)

  ADJECTIVE: Sluggish; immovable; dark or gloomy.

  leech

  (leech)

  NOUN: Someone who attaches him or herself to another person in the hope of some sort of personal gain; a bloodsucking worm.

  It became apparent that Peter was a LEECH when he stopped working and stayed rent-free in Anna’s apartment without contributing to expenses.

  Determine never to be idle… It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

  —THOMAS JEFFERSON

  leisurely

  (LEE-zher-lee)

  ADJECTIVE: Acting in an unhurried manner.

  lethargy

  (LETH-er-jee)

  NOUN: A state of drowsiness or dullness; listlessness.

  lie-down

  (LAYE-doun)

  NOUN: A British phrase meaning a nap.

  lifeless

  (LAYEF-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without life; lacking animation.

  limp

  (limp)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking firmness or energy.

  linger

  (LING-ger)

  VERB: To remain in place for longer than would be expected; to hang back.

  listless

  (LIST-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Lethargic; lacking in energy.