Synonyms for idle

Synonyms for (noun) idle

Synonyms: idle

Definition: the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling

Usage: the car engine was running at idle

Similar words: operation

Definition: the state of being in effect or being operative

Usage: that rule is no longer in operation


Synonyms for (adj) idle

Synonyms: idle, unused

Definition: not in active use

Usage: the machinery sat idle during the strike; idle hands

Similar words: inactive

Definition: lacking activity; lying idle or unused

Usage: an inactive mine; inactive accounts; inactive machinery


Synonyms: idle

Definition: not in action or at work

Usage: an idle laborer; idle drifters; the idle rich; an idle mind

Similar words: bone-idle, bone-lazy

Definition: constitutionally lazy or idle


Similar words: indolent, otiose, slothful, work-shy, lazy, faineant

Definition: disinclined to work or exertion

Usage: faineant kings under whose rule the country languished; an indolent hanger-on; too lazy to wash the dishes; shiftless idle youth; slothful employees; the unemployed are not necessarily work-shy


Similar words: lackadaisical

Definition: idle or indolent especially in a dreamy way

Usage: she was annoyingly lackadaisical and impractical; a...lackadaisical, spiritless young man-about-town- P.G.Wodehouse


Similar words: leisured

Definition: free from duties or responsibilities

Usage: he writes in his leisure hours; life as it ought to be for the leisure classes- J.J.Chapman; even the artist and the sculptor were not regarded...as leisured men- Ida Craven


Similar words: unengaged

Definition: not busy or occupied; free

Usage: the cancellation left her unengaged a good part of the afternoon


Synonyms: jobless, out of work, idle

Definition: not having a job

Usage: idle carpenters; jobless transients; many people in the area were out of work

Similar words: unemployed

Definition: not engaged in a gainful occupation

Usage: unemployed workers marched on the capital


Synonyms: dead, idle

Definition: not yielding a return

Usage: dead capital; idle funds

Similar words: unprofitable

Definition: producing little or no profit or gain

Usage: deposits abandoned by mining companies as unprofitable


Synonyms: loose, idle

Definition: lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility

Usage: idle talk; a loose tongue

Similar words: irresponsible

Definition: showing lack of care for consequences

Usage: behaved like an irresponsible idiot; hasty and irresponsible action


Synonyms: light, idle

Definition: silly or trivial

Usage: idle pleasure; light banter; light idle chatter

Similar words: frivolous

Definition: not serious in content or attitude or behavior

Usage: a frivolous novel; a frivolous remark; a frivolous young woman


Synonyms: unwarranted, wild, baseless, groundless, idle, unfounded

Definition: without a basis in reason or fact

Usage: baseless gossip; the allegations proved groundless; idle fears; unfounded suspicions; unwarranted jealousy

Similar words: unsupported

Definition: not sustained or maintained by nonmaterial aid

Usage: unsupported accusations


Visual thesaurus for idle