lackadaisical
adjective
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Where does lackadaisical come from?
Alas, alack, there are times when life seems to be one unfortunate occurrence after another. We've all had days when nothing seemed to go right. When folks had one of those days back in the 17th century, they'd cry "Lackaday" to express their sorrow and disappointment. Lackaday was a shortened form of the expression "alack the day." By the mid-1700s, lackadaisical was being used (coined through the addition of the suffix -ical). The word lackadaisy also was used around that time as an interjection similar to lackaday, and this word, though never as prevalent as lackaday, might have influenced the coinage of lackadaisical.
Synonyms
- enervated
- languid
- languishing
- languorous
- limp
- listless
- spiritless
Example Sentences
Ted Gup, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 But there’s a certain amount of gravity that pulls us west, to the cool breeze and lackadaisical existence that coastal vibes promise us. Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 August, after all, is summer’s finale that brings a lazy, lackadaisical energy along with it. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2022 Adamma is also the more lackadaisical twin, both admit. Amy Nicholson, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2022 The parched, lackadaisical days of late summer in Northern California bring into season an abundant variety of tomatoes in a stunning range of hues and flavors. Adahlia Cole, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Aug. 2022 Two years ago, Twitter's lackadaisical approach led to the biggest social media hack in history, Zatko claims. Irina Ivanova, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2022 The department’s lackadaisical monitoring of Flores — who gunned down Officer Joseph Santana and Cpl. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022 The lackadaisical tempo and blue water of one tiny inlet on La Gonave belies its poverty. Nick Paton Walsh, Natalie Gallón, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
irregular from lackaday + -ical
1768, in the meaning defined above
lackadaisical
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- listless
- tired
- languorous
- exhausted
- spiritless
- languid
- lazy
- sleepy
- weak
- enervated
- lethargic
- limp
- slothful
- sluggish
- weary
- careless
- languishing
- indolent
- apathetic
- feeble
- torpid
- indifferent
- phlegmatic
- thoughtless
- stolid
- dull
- impassive
- logy
- heedless
- loggy
- inactive
- inert
- frail
- knackered
- unwary
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ambitious
- energetic
- enterprising
- active
- motivated
- industrious
- dynamic
- enthusiastic
- kinetic
- animated
- eager
- cheerful
- vivacious
- lively
- perky
- pumped
- keen
- vigilant
- watchful
- avid
- sleepless
- up
- dapper
- chipper
- alert
- awake
- open-eyed
- wide-awake
- agog
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of lackadaisical are languid, languorous, listless, and spiritless. While all these words mean "lacking energy or enthusiasm," lackadaisical implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted efforts.
The meanings of languid and lackadaisical largely overlap; however, languid refers to an unwillingness or inability to exert oneself due to fatigue or physical weakness.
Although the words languorous and lackadaisical have much in common, languorous suggests a dreamy boredom and delicacy that avoids unnecessary activity.
While the synonyms listless and lackadaisical are close in meaning, listless suggests a lack of interest caused by physical weakness or dissatisfied boredom.
While in some cases nearly identical to lackadaisical, spiritless refers to a lack of animation or vigor that gives one's actions and words life.