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faineant

faineant

9.9
Not willing to work or make effort
  • adjective
  • /feɪnˈeɪ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : perezoso
  • The old manor was run by a faineant caretaker who preferred reading to working.

Examples

  • The country stagnated under a faineant government unwilling to address pressing issues.

  • Don't be so faineant! Get up and do something!

  • Despite his reputation as a faineant, he occasionally surprised everyone with bursts of energy.

  • He is such a faineant!

  • The old manor was run by a faineant caretaker who preferred reading to working.

  • Despite his reputation as a faineant, he occasionally surprised everyone with bursts of energy.

  • The country stagnated under a faineant government unwilling to address pressing issues.

Synonyms

lazy
vsfaineant
355 1.0

Not willing to work or make an effort

is the same disinclination but noted as an uncommon expression
idle
vsfaineant
57 2.8

Not working or being used

is specifically about a person being unwilling to work or exertion
lethargic
vsfaineant
15 5.3

Being very tired and slow with little interest or energy

is the disposition to avoid work rather than a temporary low energy state
unmotivated
vsfaineant
8 4.4

Not feeling interest or energy to do something

is about an active reluctance to work rather than only low motivation
shiftless
vsfaineant
  • Offensive
5 8.4

A person who is lazy and unwilling to work or try

focuses on unwillingness too but is presented as a rare label
lackadaisical
vsfaineant
5 8.6

Showing little energy or interest and doing things slowly and carelessly

is more narrowly about unwillingness to work rather than low interest
inactive
vsfaineant
4 2.3

Not moving and not showing much physical or mental energy

is about choosing not to work rather than general lack of movement
slothful
vsfaineant
4 7.2

Not willing to work and often inactive

is the same idea but presented as a rare, single-word label
indolent
vsfaineant
2 8.0

Not wanting to work or try hard

is the same habitual unwillingness but marked as a rare term
bone-idle
vsfaineant
  • Offensive
1 9.1

Very lazy and not willing to do any work or help

is equivalent in meaning but appears as a rarer term
otiose
vsfaineant
  • Literature
9.9

Unwilling to work or help

is the rarer, literary word for the same unwillingness to work
bone-lazy
vsfaineant
  • Offensive
7.9

Not willing to do any work most of the time

is the same extreme laziness but given in a rare form
work-shy
vsfaineant
  • UK
8.5

Not willing to do a job or make an effort

expresses the same lack of desire to work but as a rare word
unindustrious
vsfaineant
7.2

Not working hard and often lazy

shares the lack of effort but is marked as a rare descriptor
loungy
vsfaineant
  • Informal
8.1

Tending to be lazy and preferring to sit or rest instead of move

is more general disinclination to work rather than specific lounging habit
nondiligent
vsfaineant
7.2

Not giving enough care or effort when doing tasks

is about being unwilling to work rather than simply careless

Antonyms

664 1.0

Operating now and not stopped

17 3.3

Working hard and carefully to complete tasks

How Lazy

slothful
4 7.2
indolent
2 8.0
faineant
  • Archaic
9.9
lazy
355 1.0
idle
57 2.8

Surface Forms

faineant positive

Etymology

Faineant comes from the French word fainéant, which literally means 'doing nothing' or a 'do-nothing' person. So, calling someone faineant says they are idle or unwilling to work.