What does listless mean?
Word: Listless
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Listless means having no energy or interest in doing anything, often because you are tired, unwell or bored.
Synonyms: lethargic, sluggish, languid
Antonyms: energetic, lively, eager
How do you spell listless?
Syllables: list - less
Tricky part: It is list + less: the t stays even though it is hard to hear, and -less ends in a double s.
Watch out for: lisless, listles, listliss
Memory tip: Picture a child so listless that she cannot even write her to-do list. List + less, with the t of list kept.
Listless in a sentence
Example 1: The heat made the puppies listless, so they lay under the cooler all day.
Example 2: After his fever, Varun felt listless and stayed in bed.
Example 3: On the last day of the long holiday, Mira felt listless and could not even finish her comic.
Fun Fact
It comes from an old meaning of list, desire or wish. So listless first meant having no wish to do anything.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Choose the meaning of the misspelt word in the given sentence:
The long power cut left everyone listless, and even my baby brother stopped playing with his favourite rattel.
a) having no energy or interest
b) a baby's toy that makes a noise when shaken
c) a boy who has the same parents as you
d) a time when the electricity supply stops
Show answer
b) a baby's toy that makes a noise when shaken. Rattel is the slip; rattle ends in -le.
Word Puzzle
Match the words in the two lists:
1. listless 2. hasty 3. fragile a. delicate b. weary c. hurried
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
Show answer
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. Listless and weary both describe a tired child, hasty means hurried and fragile means delicate.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) listless
b) exausted
c) drowsy
d) feverish
Show answer
b) exausted. Exhausted has a silent h after the x.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
slssetli 12345678
a) 87654321
b) 28617534
c) 28167534
d) 28167354
Show answer
c) 28167534. Start with l and i (2 and 8), then s and t (1 and 6); l, e and the last two s's finish it.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What might leave you feeling listless?
a) a good night's sleep
b) winning a race
c) a long, rainy day with nothing to do
d) a surprise birthday party
Show answer
c) a long, rainy day with nothing to do
2. Which would you call a listless performance?
a) a team that barely tries to win
b) a team that runs till the whistle
c) a team that cheers every pass
d) a team that scores ten goals
Show answer
a) a team that barely tries to win
