indolent
gb/ˈɪndələnt/ us/ˈɪndələnt/
C1
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
habitually lazy and inactive
Not liking to work or move, and being lazy most of the time.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is indolent
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "indolent" with "insolent" (which means rude or disrespectful). "Indolent" describes someone who is lazy or inactive, not someone who is rude. It is also more formal than "lazy" and is mostly used in written or careful speech.
Synonyms
lazy (More common and general; less formal than "indolent.")
|
slothful (Stronger and more negative, often suggesting moral judgment or religious tone.)
Antonyms
industrious (Stresses hard work and steady effort, the opposite of avoiding work.)
Collocations
indolent lifestyle
|indolent youth
|indolent ease
|physically indolent
|mentally indolent
|indolent habits
Themes
personality
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His indolent attitude made it hard for the rest of the team to meet their deadlines.
- After years of indolent comfort, she found full-time work exhausting.
- The heat made everyone feel indolent and unwilling to move from their chairs.
- She preferred an indolent afternoon on the sofa to any kind of outdoor activity.
- The novel portrays an indolent rich family that does nothing useful with its money.
Learner examples
- He is too indolent to look for a job.
- On hot days, I feel indolent and do very little.
- Her parents worry because she lives an indolent life.
- The boss is angry with his indolent workers.
- She became indolent after she won a lot of money.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
causing little or no pain
Used in medicine to talk about a disease or wound that does not hurt much or at all.
Usage pattern:
an indolent [ulcer/tumor/lesion]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume "indolent" always means "lazy." In medical texts, it can also mean that a disease or wound causes little or no pain. The subject is usually a medical condition, not a person.
Synonyms
painless (General word meaning 'without pain'; "indolent" is usually used for specific medical problems.)
Antonyms
painful (Describes conditions that cause a lot of pain, the opposite of "indolent" in this medical sense.)
Collocations
indolent ulcer
|indolent lesion
|indolent sore
|clinically indolent
|indolent infection
Themes
medicine
|health
|science
Examples
- The patient presented with an indolent ulcer on the lower leg that had gone unnoticed for months.
- Because the tumor was indolent and painless, it was discovered only during a routine check-up.
- Indolent skin lesions can be particularly dangerous in patients with diabetes, as they may not seek treatment promptly.
Learner examples
- The doctor said the wound was indolent and did not cause much pain.
- An indolent ulcer can be serious even if it does not hurt.
- Because the spot was indolent, he did not feel it and did not visit the clinic.
- Some cancers start as indolent, painless lumps.
- The nurse checked an indolent sore on the old man's foot.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
slow-growing or slow-progressing (medical)
Used in medicine to describe a disease that grows or changes very slowly.
Usage pattern:
an indolent [cancer/lymphoma/disease]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "indolent cancer" means the cancer is "lazy" or "not serious." In medicine, it means the cancer grows slowly, but it can still be dangerous and needs monitoring.
Synonyms
slow-growing (Plain description of slow growth; "indolent" is more technical and often refers to cancers or chronic diseases.)
Antonyms
aggressive (In medical language, describes diseases that grow and spread quickly, the opposite of "indolent" here.)
Collocations
indolent lymphoma
|indolent cancer
|indolent disease
|indolent course
|indolent progression
Themes
medicine
|health
|science
Examples
- The biopsy confirmed an indolent lymphoma that might not require immediate treatment.
- Although the condition is indolent, regular monitoring is essential to detect any change in behavior.
- Patients with indolent cancers can often live many years with careful observation and limited therapy.
- The disease typically follows an indolent course before occasionally transforming into a more aggressive form.
- Her oncologist described the tumor as indolent but potentially dangerous over the long term.
Learner examples
- The doctor said it was an indolent cancer that grows very slowly.
- An indolent disease may not need strong treatment right away.
- He has an indolent lymphoma, so the doctors will just watch it for now.
- Some patients live a long time with an indolent tumor.
- The illness has an indolent course and changes only a little each year.
Grammar
Dictionary form
indolent
IPA
GB/ˈɪndələnt/
US/ˈɪndələnt/
Syllables & stress
in - dol - ent (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (in)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: indolent
Word family
Core family
indolence
noun C1
indolently
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
diligent
adjective B2
industrious
adjective B2
Expressions
indolent lifestyle
1/ˈɪndələnt lˈaɪfstˌaɪl/
fixed phrase
formal
lazy, low-effort way of living
A way of living where a person does very little work or activity and enjoys being lazy.
Examples
- After inheriting a fortune, he settled into an indolent lifestyle by the sea.
- Years of an indolent lifestyle left her unfit and easily tired.
- They criticized the prince for his indolent lifestyle and lack of public service.
indolent tumor
2/ˈɪndələnt tˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
slow-growing, often painless tumor
A tumor that changes and grows very slowly and often does not hurt.
Examples
- The scan revealed an indolent tumor that the doctors decided to monitor rather than remove immediately.
- Patients with an indolent tumor may live many years with regular check-ups.
indolent ulcer
3/ˈɪndələnt ˈʌlsɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
painless, slow-healing ulcer
A medical problem on the skin or inside the body that does not hurt much and heals very slowly.
Examples
- The podiatrist treated an indolent ulcer on the patient's heel.
- In diabetic patients, an indolent ulcer may go unnoticed until it becomes infected.