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Listless vs Restless - What's the difference?

listless | restless |

As adjectives the difference between listless and restless

is that listless is lacking energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness while restless is not allowing or affording rest.

listless

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness.
  • * 1818 , , Frankenstein , ch. 18:
  • I passed whole days on the lake alone in a little boat, watching the clouds and listening to the rippling of the waves, silent and listless .
  • * 1861 , , The Stokesley Secret , ch. 6:
  • What an entirely different set of beings were those Stokesley children in lesson-time. . . . Poor, listless , stolid, deplorable logs, with bowed backs and crossed ankles, pipy voices and heavy eyes!
  • * 1901 , , The Hero , ch. 21:
  • The scene with Mrs. Wallace had broken his spirit, and he was listless now, indifferent to what happened.
  • * 2005 Nov. 29, Aryn Baker, " John Hardy: Bali Guy," Time :
  • Listless , inattentive, distracted,” he recited. “A daydreamer. Tries his best, but is too slow.”

    Derived terms

    * listlessly * listlessness

    Anagrams

    *

    restless

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not allowing or affording rest.
  • The night before his wedding was a restless one.
  • Without rest; unable to be still or quiet; uneasy; continually moving.
  • He was a restless child.
    She sat, restless and nervous, and tried to concentrate.
  • Not satisfied to be at rest or in peace; averse to repose; eager for change; discontented.
  • A restless ambition.
  • Deprived of rest or sleep.
  • They remained restless , sitting by the window the entire night.

    Derived terms

    * restlessly * restlessness

    Synonyms

    * antsy

    References

    * *

    Anagrams

    *