slothfulness
/'slouθfulnis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A state or quality of being lazy, idle, or averse to work or exertion: Slothfulness refers to a habitual disinclination to be active or to make an effort. It implies a lack of energy, motivation, or willingness to engage in labor or strenuous activity.
Usage and Examples
- General Use: The word describes a characteristic or state of a person.
- His slothfulness prevented him from finishing the project on time.
- The team's failure was attributed more to slothfulness than to a lack of skill.
- Describing a Trait: It is often used to critique a persistent character flaw.
- She fought against her own natural slothfulness by maintaining a strict daily routine.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Formal and Literary Context: "Slothfulness" is more formal than common synonyms like "laziness." It is often found in literary, religious, or moralistic texts discussing vice or character.
- The sermon condemned the sins of slothfulness and greed.
- Personification: The quality can be attributed metaphorically.
- A slothfulness had settled over the office after the holiday.
Variants and Related Words
- Slothful (adjective): Characterized by slothfulness; lazy.
- He was a slothful student who rarely completed his homework.
- Sloth (noun): 1. Laziness or reluctance to work. 2. A slow-moving tropical mammal (Note: This is a different, though etymologically related, meaning).
- His life was one of indolence and sloth. (meaning laziness)
Synonyms
- Laziness: The most common direct synonym.
- Indolence: Formal term for habitual laziness.
- Idleness: The state of being inactive or not working.
- Lethargy: A lack of energy and enthusiasm, which can manifest as slothfulness.
- Inertia: Disinclination to move or change.
Antonyms
- Industriousness: Diligent hard work.
- Diligence: Careful and persistent work or effort.
- Zeal: Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.
- Activity: The state of being active.
Idioms and Phrases
- While not a phrasal verb, the concept is central to idioms like:
- "A slothful hand brings poverty": A proverb meaning that laziness leads to need. (Proverbs 10:4)
- "To live in sloth": To live a lazy, inactive life.
Noun
- a disinclination to work or exert yourself