Words / C2

IND-uh-l-uh-nt/ˈɪndələnt/

Indolent means lazy, especially as a settled habit (formal / literary): an indolent afternoon, indolent management. Lazy is everyday; idle can be “not working” without blame (idle machinery). Do not call a waiting protocol indolent because it is paused on purpose.

Meaning

Lazy; not wanting to work or be active (formal / literary).

Examples

• “An indolent “we’ll see” left the clinic without a spare key.”
• “Lazy is everyday. Idle plant is unused kit. Languid is slow and unhurried, sometimes stylish. A minuted pause with a return date is not indolence. Leaving the key unowned is.”

Good to know

Habitually lazy (formal). Everyday: lazy. Contrast: idle (can be unused, not lazy). A planned pause is not indolence.

Near in meaning

lazy

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