a listless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a listless" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone or something that is lacking energy or enthusiasm. Example: "After the long meeting, she felt a listless sense of boredom." Alternative expressions include "apathetic" and "lethargic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Hurricanes played a listless first half.

The New York Times - Sports

But then it lost to Uruguay in a listless performance.

The New York Times - Sports

IT HAS been a listless few years for Uganda.

The Economist

The market closed a listless session with no standout sectors.

The New York Times

The trouble began during a listless opening match against Mexico.

The Guardian

Lyon tore strips off his players after a listless start.

The Guardian - Sport

Carlo Rizzi conducts a listless and careless performance.

The New York Times

It was a listless day at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Times - Sports

Tap-dancing mice and an exploding bird are the high points of a listless evening.

The New Yorker

It was representative of a listless afternoon, a disconcerting way to end the week.

The New York Times - Sports

Tuna tataki, seared tuna atop an avocado salad, was marred by a listless soy vinaigrette.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In sports journalism, apply this phrase to characterize a team that appears to be playing without effort or focus.

Common error

Do not confuse "a listless" with being literally without a list. The suffix '-less' here modifies 'list' in its archaic sense of 'desire' or 'craving', meaning it should only be used to describe energy levels, not organizational tools.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a listless" functions as an adjective phrase consisting of an indefinite article and a descriptive adjective. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it almost exclusively serves an attributive function, preceding a noun to qualify its state of energy or enthusiasm. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard and grammatically correct construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Sports

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a listless" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct English expression used to describe a lack of energy, spirit, or enthusiasm. Data from Ludwig shows that it is exceptionally common in professional journalism, where it characterizes everything from sports team performances to financial market sessions. It serves as a more precise alternative to "lethargic" when the focus is on a lack of inner drive rather than just physical tiredness. Whether describing "a listless" afternoon or "a listless" economy, the phrase remains a staple of high-quality descriptive writing. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is stable and widely accepted across all major English-speaking regions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a lethargic

Emphasizes a physical slowness or heavy tiredness.

a spiritless

Focuses specifically on a lack of inner drive or morale.

a lackadaisical

Suggests a careless or lazy lack of interest.

an apathetic

Denotes a complete absence of emotion or concern.

a languid

Suggests a slow, relaxed, or faint lack of energy, often used in more literary contexts.

a stagnant

Often used for economies or markets showing no growth or activity.

a dull

A simpler term indicating a lack of excitement or sharpness.

an inert

Implies a total lack of movement or reaction.

a weary

Suggests that the lack of energy stems from exhaustion.

a flat

Frequently used in sports or music to describe a performance lacking 'spark'.

FAQs

How to use "a listless" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe people or abstract things, such as "The team suffered <a href="/s/a+listless+defeat" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a listless defeat at home" or "Investors faced <a href="/s/a+listless+session" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a listless session on the stock market."

What can I say instead of "a listless"?

Depending on the context, you might use "<a href="/s/a+lethargic" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a lethargic", "<a href="/s/a+spiritless" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a spiritless", or "<a href="/s/an+apathetic" target="_blank" rel="alternative">an apathetic".

What's the difference between "a listless" and "a stagnant"?

While "a listless" describes a lack of spirit or energy, "<a href="/s/a+stagnant" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a stagnant" specifically refers to something that is not flowing, moving, or developing, such as an economy or a pool of water.

Is it correct to use "a listless" for a performance?

Yes, it is very common in arts and sports reviews. For example, a critic might describe "<a href="/s/a+listless+performance" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a listless performance" when an actor or athlete lacks their usual charisma or drive.