All idle synonyms
iΒ·dle
I i adj idle
- unproductive β having the power of producing; generative; creative: a productive effort.
- useless β of no use; not serving the purpose or any purpose; unavailing or futile: It is useless to reason with him.
- rambling β aimlessly wandering.
- hollow β having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty: a hollow sphere.
- abortive β An abortive attempt or action is unsuccessful.
- bootless β of little or no use; vain; fruitless
- frivolous β characterized by lack of seriousness or sense: frivolous conduct.
- fruitless β useless; unproductive; without results or success: a fruitless search for the missing treasure.
- futile β incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful: Attempting to force-feed the sick horse was futile.
- groundless β without rational basis: groundless fears.
- insignificant β unimportant, trifling, or petty: Omit the insignificant details.
- irrelevant β not relevant; not applicable or pertinent: His lectures often stray to interesting but irrelevant subjects.
- nugatory β of no real value; trifling; worthless.
verb idle
- laze β to idle or lounge lazily (often followed by around): I was too tired to do anything but laze around this weekend.
- laze around β to idle or lounge lazily (often followed by around): I was too tired to do anything but laze around this weekend.
- hang around β to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend.
- goof off β to blunder; make an error, misjudgment, etc.
- waste β to consume, spend, or employ uselessly or without adequate return; use to no avail or profit; squander: to waste money; to waste words.
- while away β a period or interval of time: to wait a long while; He arrived a short while ago.
- fritter away β to squander or disperse piecemeal; waste little by little (usually followed by away): to fritter away one's money; to fritter away an afternoon.
- tick over β If an engine is ticking over, it is running at a low speed or rate, for example when it is switched on but you are not actually using it.
- turn over β to cause to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate: to turn a wheel.
- run β execution
- lay off β to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.
- dismiss β to direct (an assembly of persons) to disperse or go: I dismissed the class early.
- can β You use can when you are mentioning a quality or fact about something which people may make use of if they want to.
adjective idle
- inactive β not active: an inactive volcano.
- inoperative β not operative; not in operation.
- unoccupied β without occupants; empty; vacant.
- at rest β not moving; still
- off β so as to be no longer supported or attached: This button is about to come off.
- still β remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary: to stand still.
- down β from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position: to come down the ladder.
- immobile β incapable of moving or being moved.
- lazy β averse or disinclined to work, activity, or exertion; indolent.
- indolent β having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful: an indolent person.
- shiftless β lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy.
- slothful β sluggardly; indolent; lazy.
- sluggish β indisposed to action or exertion; lacking in energy; lazy; indolent: a sluggish disposition.
- workshy β (British) Disinclined to work; lazy.
- worthless β without worth; of no use, importance, or value; good-for-nothing: a worthless person; a worthless contract.
- ineffective β not effective; not producing results; ineffectual: ineffective efforts; ineffective remedies.
- empty β A container (esp. a bottle or glass) left empty of its contents.
- unfounded β without foundation; not based on fact, realistic considerations, or the like: unfounded suspicions.
- baseless β If you describe an accusation, rumour, or report as baseless, you mean that it is not true and is not based on facts.
- meaningless β without meaning, significance, purpose, or value; purposeless; insignificant: a meaningless reply; a meaningless existence.
- speculative β pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by speculation, contemplation, conjecture, or abstract reasoning: a speculative approach.
- casual β If you are casual, you are, or you pretend to be, relaxed and not very concerned about what is happening or what you are doing.
- ineffectual β not effectual; without satisfactory or decisive effect: an ineffectual remedy.
- impotent β not potent; lacking power or ability.