Idle and Shiftless

Idle

Idle adjective - Not easily aroused to action or work.
Usage example: an idle employee who always seems to be either on break or at lunch

Shiftless is a synonym for idle in lazy topic. In some cases you can use "Shiftless" instead an adjective "Idle", when it comes to topics like action. popular alternative

Nearby Words: idled, idleness, idler, idling, idly

Shiftless

Shiftless adjective - Not easily aroused to action or work.
Usage example: shiftless spongers who never thought to do anything for themselves

Idle is a synonym for shiftless in lazy topic. You can use "Idle" instead an adjective "Shiftless", if it concerns topics such as action. popular alternative

Nearby Word: shifty
Cite this Source
Shiftless and Idle. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/idle/shiftless
Idle & Shiftless. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/idle/shiftless>.
Shiftless or Idle. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/idle/shiftless.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "idle" and "shiftless" have occurred on timeline