adjective

indolent

IN-duh-lunt

Indolent (adjective) means avoiding effort or activity; lazy in a relaxed, unhurried way. Example: “He spent an indolent afternoon in the hammock.”

adjective

Avoiding effort or activity; lazy in a relaxed, unhurried way.

"He spent an indolent afternoon in the hammock."

"She accused the committee of being indolent rather than incompetent."

medicine Of a disease or growth: developing very slowly and causing little or no pain.

"The scan showed an indolent tumour that needed monitoring rather than surgery."

How to Use Indolent

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishToo relaxed to bother doing much.

When to use it

Literary and slightly softer than 'lazy'; it can even sound admiring when describing a pleasant, slow day.

Memory tip

Do not confuse indolent (lazy) with insolent (rude). One letter changes the insult completely.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

indolent / insolent indolent / indulgent

Common pairings

indolent lifestyle indolent afternoon indolent manner indolent lymphoma

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He spent an _____ afternoon in the hammock.

Etymology

From Latin indolentia 'freedom from pain', from in- 'not' plus dolere 'to feel pain'; the sense of laziness developed from the idea of taking no trouble.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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lazy idle slothful listless languid

Antonyms

industrious energetic diligent

Related Words

active slow industrial weak boring dynamic lazy productive

Rhymes for indolent

violent insolent benevolent malevolent

See all rhymes for indolent →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between indolent and insolent?

Indolent means lazy and unwilling to exert yourself. Insolent means rude and disrespectful to someone in authority. The words look similar but come from different Latin roots.

Is indolent an insult?

It can be, but it is gentler than 'lazy' and often carries a hint of leisure or luxury. Describing an indolent summer day is not a criticism at all.

What does an indolent tumour mean?

In medicine it describes a growth that develops slowly and produces few symptoms. Doctors sometimes monitor an indolent cancer instead of treating it immediately.

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