laziness
gb/lˈeɪzinəs/ us/lˈeɪzinəs/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
property
1
unwillingness to work or try
Not wanting to work or make an effort.
Usage pattern:
laziness (in [doing something]); out of/through laziness
Common mistake:
Do not use laziness to mean being tired or ill; it usually suggests a choice to avoid effort.
Synonyms
idleness (focuses on not being busy or active.)
|
sloth (stronger and more judgmental; often moral/religious tone.)
|
indolence (more formal; suggests habitual laziness.)
|
inertia (emphasizes difficulty getting started or changing.)
Antonyms
diligence (careful, persistent effort.)
|
industriousness (habit of working hard.)
|
initiative (readiness to act without being told.)
Collocations
sheer laziness
|pure laziness
|out of sheer laziness
|because of laziness
|due to laziness
|laziness and procrastination
|chronic laziness
|accused of laziness
|overcome laziness
|a sign of laziness
Themes
daily_life
|work
|personality
|motivation
Examples
- He missed the deadline because of sheer laziness.
- The teacher said it wasn’t a lack of ability, just laziness.
- I know I should exercise, but laziness often wins after work.
Learner examples
- Laziness can cause problems at school.
- He blamed laziness for his bad grades.
Noun
B2
state
2
pleasant time of doing nothing
A relaxed time when you do nothing.
Usage pattern:
a feeling/day/morning of laziness
Synonyms
lazing (informal; often used with around/about.)
|
rest (emphasizes recovery and sleep/relaxation.)
|
downtime (modern; time off from work or activity.)
Antonyms
busyness (having many things to do.)
|
activity (being physically or mentally active.)
Collocations
a day of laziness
|a morning of laziness
|weekend laziness
|holiday laziness
|a little laziness
|sink into laziness
|enjoy the laziness
|the sweet laziness of summer
Themes
daily_life
|leisure
|well_being
Examples
- After a busy week, she loved the laziness of Sunday mornings.
- We spent the afternoon in comfortable laziness, reading and napping.
- There was a pleasant laziness in the air during the long holiday.
Learner examples
- On Sunday, I enjoy a little laziness.
- After work, I want rest and laziness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
laziness
IPA
GB/lˈeɪzinəs/
US/lˈeɪzinəs/
Syllables & stress
lazi - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (lazi)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: laziness
- Plural: laziness
Word family
Expressions
a bout of laziness
1/ə bˈaʊt əv lˈeɪzinəs/
fixed phrase
temporary period of being lazy
A short time when you feel lazy.
Examples
- I had a bout of laziness over the holidays and didn’t exercise at all.
- After the exams, he fell into a bout of laziness.
- She blamed her bout of laziness on the rainy weather.
laziness of mind
1/lˈeɪzinəs əv mˈaɪnd/
fixed phrase
unwillingness to think carefully
Not wanting to think hard or learn.
Examples
- Repeating slogans instead of checking facts is a kind of laziness of mind.
- The article criticized the laziness of mind behind the simple answers.
- He called it laziness of mind, not lack of intelligence.
out of sheer laziness
1/ˈaʊt əv ʃˈɪɹ lˈeɪzinəs/
fixed phrase
because you were too lazy
Only because you did not want to make an effort.
Examples
- I ordered takeout out of sheer laziness instead of cooking.
- He didn’t call her back out of sheer laziness, not because he was busy.
- She used the old password out of sheer laziness.
sheer laziness
1/ʃˈɪɹ lˈeɪzinəs/
fixed phrase
nothing but laziness as cause
Only laziness; no other reason.
Examples
- Leaving the dishes for days was sheer laziness on his part.
- It wasn’t a mistake—just sheer laziness.
- The mess in the garage came from sheer laziness.