Idle Synonyms and Antonyms

īdl
Marked by a lack of action or activity
(Adjective)
Synonyms:
  1. inactive
  2. inert
  3. jobless
  4. inoperative
  5. out-of-work
Antonyms:
  1. busy
  2. used
  3. active
  4. working
  5. employed
  6. productive
Lazy
(Adjective)
Synonyms:
  1. indolent
  2. lazy
  3. shiftless
  4. slothful
  5. fainéant
  6. light
  7. sluggard
  8. sluggish
  9. do-nothing
Antonyms:
  1. industrious
  2. busy
  3. hustling
  4. ambitious
  5. diligent
  6. productive
Not occupied or put to use
(Adjective)
Synonyms:
  1. unused
  2. inactive
  3. unemployed
  4. vacant
Empty
(Adjective)
Synonyms:
  1. baseless
  2. groundless
  3. unfounded
  4. unwarranted
  5. pointless
  6. bottomless
  7. rambling
  8. vain
  9. wild
Antonyms:
  1. effective
  2. meaningful
  3. worthwhile
  4. productive
  5. important
To pass time without working or in avoiding work
(Verb)
Synonyms:
  1. loaf
  2. laze
  3. shirk
  4. loiter
  5. slack
  6. bum
  7. lounge
  8. while away time
  9. tick-over
  10. diddle
  11. goldbrick
  12. goof
  13. slug
  14. stagnate
Antonyms:
  1. work
  2. run
To pass (time) without working or in avoiding work.
(Verb)
Synonyms:
  1. Also used with away: dawdle
  2. fiddle away
  3. kill
  4. trifle away
  5. waste
  6. while
  7. wile
To cause to cease regular activity
(Verb)
Synonyms:
  1. immobilize
  2. stop
  3. tie-up
Lacking substance, value, or basis:
(Adjective)
Synonyms:
  1. baseless
  2. vain
Not employed or busy:
(Adjective)
Synonyms:
  1. inactive

Words Related to Idle

Related words are words that are directly connected to each other through their meaning, even if they are not synonyms or antonyms. This connection may be general or specific, or the words may appear frequently together.

Idle Sentence Examples

  • I've been idle too long.

  • I was only making idle conversation anyway.

  • Somehow I get the idea that you will find it harder to be idle than working.

  • That is an idle dream.

  • Whether another head of the Church could have prevented the defection of England is of course an idle question.

More Sentences

Related Articles