lackadaisical
Also found in: Thesaurus, Wikipedia.
lack·a·dai·si·cal
(lăk′ə-dā′zĭ-kəl)adj.
1. Characterized by a lack of effort, care, or involvement: "There'll be no time to correct lackadaisical driving techniques after trouble develops" (William J. Hampton).
2. Lacking enthusiasm or interest; listless; casually lazy: If you weren't so lackadaisical in your studies, you wouldn't be so far behind in class.
[From lackadaisy, alteration of lackaday.]
lack′a·dai′si·cal·ly adv.
Usage Note: The first two syllables of lackadaisical are pronounced (lăk′ə). Some people use the pronunciation (lăk′sə), as though the word were spelled lacksadaisical or laxadaisical. The confusion is probably semantic—someone who is lackadaisical could be said to have a lax attitude. In our 2014 survey, the Usage Panel overwhelmingly preferred the traditional pronunciation. Only 12 percent of the Panel found the lax pronunciation to be acceptable, and only 6.5 percent reported that they use it as their own preferred pronunciation.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lackadaisical
(ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl)adj
1. lacking vitality and purpose
2. lazy or idle, esp in a dreamy way
[C18: from earlier lackadaisy, extended form of lackaday]
ˌlackaˈdaisically adv
ˌlackaˈdaisicalness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
lack•a•dai•si•cal
(ˌlæk əˈdeɪ zɪ kəl)adj.
1. being without vigor or spirit; listless.
2. lazy; indolent.
lack`a•dai′si•cal•ly, adv.
lack`a•dai′si•cal•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. | 1. | lackadaisical - lacking spirit or liveliness; "a lackadaisical attempt"; "a languid mood"; "a languid wave of the hand"; "a hot languorous afternoon" lethargic - deficient in alertness or activity; "bullfrogs became lethargic with the first cold nights" |
2. | lackadaisical - idle or indolent especially in a dreamy way; "she was annoyingly lackadaisical and impractical"; "a...lackadaisical, spiritless young man-about-town"- P.G.Wodehouse idle - not in action or at work; "an idle laborer"; "idle drifters"; "the idle rich"; "an idle mind" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
lackadaisical
adjective lazy, lethargic, indifferent, idle, abstracted, limp, dreamy, inert, languid, apathetic, listless, indolent, languorous, enervated, spiritless, half-arsed (Brit. slang), half-assed (U.S. & Canad. slang), half-hearted Dr. Jonsen seemed a little lackadaisical at times.
spirited, excited, inspired, ambitious, diligent
spirited, excited, inspired, ambitious, diligent
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
lackadaisical
adjectiveLacking energy and vitality or showing such a lack:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
raukeatylsämielinenvälinpitämätön
lackadaisical
[ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl] ADJ (= careless) → descuidado, informal; (= lazy) → perezoso, flojo (LAm); (= dreamy) → distraídoCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
lackadaisical
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995