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spiritless

spiritless

1 6.0
Showing little energy and no enthusiasm
  • adjective
  • /ˈspɪrɪtləs/
translation icon : sin espíritu
  • Commemorations of the Eliot centenary in 1988, she observes, had the "subdued and bloodless" feeling of "a slightly tedious reunion of aging alumni, mostly spiritless by now."

It is not that representation is Geistlos spiritless.

Examples

  • "OK, I guess," I answered in a dull, spiritless voice.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Little Joe was obviously unhappy about this, but spiritless, he obeyed his domineering father without a hint of protest.

    Blog text (15)
  • They all seemed spiritless, content to wait out the months or years they had to serve.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The world becomes flattened, surface, ordinary, spiritless.

    Academic text (1995)
  • He wondered how she had passed her life so far, stuck on a mud lane in the most spiritless backwater he'd ever seen.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • And their shopping expedition afterward was spiritless, with Greggie hiccuping tearfully and slouching in his stroller in a brooding, insulted manner.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • She felt spiritless after a long day at work, lacking the energy to go out with friends.

  • The team's spiritless performance during the game disappointed the crowd, who expected a fierce competition.

  • He spoke in a spiritless tone, showing no enthusiasm for the project he once loved.

Synonyms

anemic
vsspiritless
  • US
24 5.7

Weak and showing little strength or energy

highlights lack of determination and active resolve
vapid
vsspiritless
16 7.9

Not interesting or lively and often boring

carries added sense of weak will or determination
lethargic
vsspiritless
15 5.3

Being very tired and slow with little interest or energy

emphasizes poor determination more than physical sluggishness
listless
vsspiritless
12 6.1

Not having energy or interest to do things

adds a clear sense of low determination
half-hearted
vsspiritless
11 4.8

Showing little interest or effort

indicates a general lack of will and determination instead of only partial effort
languid
vsspiritless
8 7.7

Moving or acting slowly because you lack energy

stresses low will and determination rather than just slowness
unmotivated
vsspiritless
8 4.4

Not feeling interest or energy to do something

adds an extra sense of low determination rather than only low motivation
joyless
vsspiritless
8 4.6

Not feeling happy or showing any pleasure

focuses more on low determination rather than lack of happiness
dispirited
vsspiritless
5 5.4

Feeling sad and without hope

emphasizes lack of determination more than sadness or discouragement
bloodless
vsspiritless
4 6.6

Showing no feeling and little energy

focuses on weak determination and liveliness rather than coldness
passionless
vsspiritless
3 6.2

Not showing strong feelings or interest

adds that this lack also includes weak determination
heartless
vsspiritless
2 4.9

Not having courage or fighting spirit

emphasizes low energy and lack of liveliness rather than only courage
cheerless
vsspiritless
2 5.5

Not bright or warm and making people feel sad

means low energy and weak determination rather than only gloomy tone
downhearted
vsspiritless
1 4.1

Feeling sad and without much hope

stresses lack of determination rather than only sadness
zipless
vsspiritless
  • US
1 8.4

Showing little energy or interest

stresses poor determination as well as low energy
unanimated
vsspiritless
1 7.6

Something that is not lively and seems dull and without energy

adds that lack also implies weak determination
sapless
vsspiritless
1 9.5

Being dry and without life or energy

puts more weight on low determination than mere weakness
low-spirited
vsspiritless
1 5.1

Feeling sad and without much energy

points more to weak determination than to emotional gloom
fireless
vsspiritless
5.1

Showing little energy and no enthusiasm

adds emphasis on low determination not just dullness
unenlivened
vsspiritless
8.5

Not made more interesting or exciting

focuses more on personal lack of determination and will
juiceless
vsspiritless
7.2

Dull and showing little energy or interest

implies lack of determination in addition to low vitality
in low spirits
vsspiritless
3.9

Feeling sad and without energy

leans more toward low will and determination rather than sadness
marrowless
vsspiritless
9.8

Having no energy or strong ideas

applies more directly to low energy and will than to emptiness
poor-spirited
vsspiritless
9.0

Having little courage and giving up easily

is broader, referring to low energy and will not only timidity

Antonyms

175 2.7

Very excited and interested in something

93 1.6

Full of energy and active

15 7.0

Full of energy and cheer that attracts other people

1 4.1

Full of energy and enthusiasm

How Spirited

exuberant
18 5.9
spirited
1 4.1
energetic
93 1.6
spiritless
1 6.0
listless
12 6.1

Surface Forms

spiritless positive

Morphology

spiritless = spirit (transparent) = spirit + less

The negative suffix '-less' attaches directly to 'spirit' to mean 'without spirit, energy, or enthusiasm', a straightforward and productive formation.

Etymology

Spiritless comes from spirit, an old word that meant 'breath' or 'life', plus the ending -less, meaning 'without'. You can see the same root in inspire, which is like 'breathing' life into someone. So, spiritless paints the picture of being 'without breath' and therefore without energy or enthusiasm.