indolent

[ in-dl-uhnt ]
See synonyms for: indolentindolently on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful: an indolent person.

  2. Pathology. causing little or no pain; inactive or relatively benign: an indolent ulcer that is not painful and is slow to heal.

Origin of indolent

1
First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin indolent- (stem of indolēns ), equivalent to in- in-3 + dolent- (stem of dolēns ), present participle of dolēre “to be painful, be in pain”; see dole2, -ent

synonym study For indolent

1. See idle.

Other words for indolent

Other words from indolent

  • in·do·lent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use indolent in a sentence

  • The other, calmer, lying down indolently, requires some little encouragement from his Auvergnoise attendant.

    The Nabob | Alphonse Daudet
  • She found Margaret lying indolently in the hammock which was strung across the wide shaded verandah.

    The Butterfly House | Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
  • Her new beau then, carelessly seating himself by her side, indolently said: 'What a heat!

    Camilla | Fanny Burney
  • The broad stream was filled with boats, in which charmingly-dressed women indolently reclined on bright-hued cushions.

    A Sheaf of Corn | Mary E. Mann
  • He was seated on the ground with his back to a tree, and Hurry stood near him indolently whittling a twig.

    The Deerslayer | James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for indolent

indolent

/ (ˈɪndələnt) /


adjective
  1. disliking work or effort; lazy; idle

  2. pathol causing little pain: an indolent tumour

  1. (esp of a painless ulcer) slow to heal

Origin of indolent

1
C17: from Latin indolēns not feeling pain, from in- 1 + dolēns, from dolēre to grieve, cause distress

Derived forms of indolent

  • indolence, noun
  • indolently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012