Word: listless (adjective)

Associations

The word "listless" describes a feeling or state of having no energy, enthusiasm, or interest. It often relates to being tired, bored, or lacking motivation.

• She felt listless after staying up all night. (Here, it shows tiredness and no energy.)
• The students were listless during the long, boring lecture. (Shows lack of interest.)
• After the illness, he was listless and didn’t want to do anything. (Shows weakness and no motivation.)

Synonym: "lethargic" is similar but usually means very slow or sleepy, while "listless" focuses more on lack of interest or spirit.

Substitution

You can replace "listless" with:

• "tired" (more physical fatigue)
• "uninterested" (more about lack of interest)
• "lethargic" (more about slow or weak)
• "sluggish" (slow and low energy)

Each word changes the feeling a little. For example, "tired" is more about needing rest, while "listless" can mean not caring or feeling empty.

Deconstruction

"Listless" comes from the word "list" + suffix "-less."

• "List" here is old English meaning "desire" or "pleasure."
• "-less" means "without." So, "listless" literally means "without desire" or "without interest."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt listless? What caused it?
• How is feeling listless different from feeling just tired?
• Can you use "listless" to describe a place or only a person? Why?