lazy
1 of 2adjective
la·zy ˈlā-zē 
lazier; laziest
1
a
: disinclined to activity or exertion : not energetic or vigorous
The lazy child tried to avoid household chores.
b
: encouraging inactivity or indolence
a lazy summer day
2
: moving slowly : sluggish
a lazy river
3
: droopy, lax
a rabbit with lazy ears
4
: placed on its side
lazy E livestock brand
5
: not rigorous or strict
lazy scholarship
lazily
ˈlā-zə-lē
adverb laziness
ˈlā-zē-nəs
noun lazyish
ˈlā-zē-ish
adjective lazy
2 of 2verb
lazied; lazying
intransitive verb
: to move or lie lazily : laze
Synonyms
Adjective
- idle
- indolent
- shiftless
- slothful
Verb
- bum
- chill
- dally
- dawdle
- dillydally
- drone
- footle
- goof (off)
- hack (around)
- hang (around or out)
- hang about [British]
- idle
- kick around
- kick back
- laze
- loaf
- loll
- lounge
- veg out
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective a lazy child who avoided household chores I should have done more work this weekend, but I was feeling lazy. a hawk flying in lazy circles Verb a good afternoon to spend lazying on the back porch
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Richard, Men's Health, 16 Sep. 2022 Will Boler has 4 tackles and a pass breakup, not seeing much action with teams avoiding the wisdom-laden sixth-year senior, and Keondre Swoopes has 5 tackles out of the ‘star’ role and is capable of snatching a ball off a lazy pass. Evan Dudley, al, 16 Sep. 2022 The final day at camp begins with a lazy breakfast and coffee. Jem Aswad, Variety, 14 Sep. 2022 Set against Simenon’s rate of production, Graham Greene seems lazy, Dickens a tortured aesthete, Walter Scott sadly blocked. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 Locals refer to themselves as being saral, sukh, and sust (simple, happy, lazy). Shalba Sarda, CNN, 11 Sep. 2022 So this perception of all millennials being superficial, lazy doesn't necessarily hold true. CBS News, 7 Sep. 2022 Imagine a lazy Saturday on the couch with PEOPLE's 2018 Sexiest Man Alive. Lydia Price, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 Avoid partnering with those using unhelpful stereotypes like the lazy stoner trope to further fiscal gains. Jeffrey M. Zucker, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Adjective
Make his après-ski as comfortable as a lazy Sunday at home with these convertible slip-on sneaker-slippers from Teva. Mike Richard, Men's Health, 16 Sep. 2022 Will Boler has 4 tackles and a pass breakup, not seeing much action with teams avoiding the wisdom-laden sixth-year senior, and Keondre Swoopes has 5 tackles out of the ‘star’ role and is capable of snatching a ball off a lazy pass. Evan Dudley, al, 16 Sep. 2022 The final day at camp begins with a lazy breakfast and coffee. Jem Aswad, Variety, 14 Sep. 2022 Set against Simenon’s rate of production, Graham Greene seems lazy, Dickens a tortured aesthete, Walter Scott sadly blocked. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 Locals refer to themselves as being saral, sukh, and sust (simple, happy, lazy). Shalba Sarda, CNN, 11 Sep. 2022 So this perception of all millennials being superficial, lazy doesn't necessarily hold true. CBS News, 7 Sep. 2022 Imagine a lazy Saturday on the couch with PEOPLE's 2018 Sexiest Man Alive. Lydia Price, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 Avoid partnering with those using unhelpful stereotypes like the lazy stoner trope to further fiscal gains. Jeffrey M. Zucker, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
perhaps from Middle Low German lasich feeble; akin to Middle High German erleswen to become weak
First Known Use
Adjective
1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1612, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing lazy
Kids Definition
lazy
adjective
la·zy ˈlā-zē
lazier; laziest
1
: not liking or willing to act or work
2
: not having much activity
a lazy summer day
3
: moving slowly : sluggish
a lazy stream
lazy 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in idle
not easily aroused to action or work the lazy dog just wanted to lie on the couch all day and sleep Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- idle
- slothful
- shiftless
- indolent
- sleepy
- dull
- lethargic
- apathetic
- sluggish
- listless
- drowsy
- languorous
- torpid
- supine
- inert
- lazyish
- quiescent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- industrious
- ambitious
- diligent
- zealous
- enterprising
- active
- energetic
- exuberant
- vigorous
- dynamic
- frisky
- spirited
- perky
- vivacious
- brisk
- snappy
- lively
- animated
- sprightly
- jaunty
- springy
- bouncing
- pert
- jazzy
- peppy
- zippy
2
as in careless
failing to give proper care and attention that cookbook author can be lazy about giving cooking times and temperatures Synonyms & Similar Words
- careless
- neglectful
- neglecting
- negligent
- reckless
- slack
- lax
- derelict
- irresponsible
- forgetful
- disregardful
- thoughtless
- oblivious
- remiss
- apathetic
- inattentive
- uninterested
- disinterested
- unthinking
- indifferent
- unconcerned
- heedless
- incautious
- unmindful
- unwary
- delinquent
- disregarding
- wild
- unguarded
- loose
- unheeding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- careful
- conscientious
- cautious
- meticulous
- attentive
- punctilious
- circumspect
- painstaking
- wary
- responsible
- nonnegligent
- thinking
- watchful
- vigilant
- mindful
- chary
- regarding
- observant
- guarded
- alert
- interested
- thoughtful
- provident
- concerned
- regardful
- foresighted
- forethoughtful
- heedful
- gingerly
- heeding
lazy
2 of 2verb
as in to laze
to spend time doing nothing a good afternoon to spend lazying on the back porch Synonyms & Similar Words
- laze
- bum
- idle
- chill
- rest
- relax
- lounge
- dawdle
- mess
- stroll
- dillydally
- loll
- loaf
- muck
- fool
- play
- kill time
- kick back
- poke
- hang about
- drone
- footle
- monkey
- goof (off)
- veg out
- dally
- trifle
- twiddle one's thumbs
- kick around
- linger
- piddle
- hibernate
- hack (around)
- doze
- hang (around or out)
- amble
- loiter
- saunter
- truant
- swan
- estivate
- lag
- mosey
- malinger
- goldbrick
- aestivate
- fiddle (around)
- potter (around)
- tarry
- furlough
- putter (around)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- work
- slave
- plod
- hustle
- toil
- labor
- plow
- sweat
- grind
- hump
- grub
- drudge
- plug
- buckle (down)
- apply
- peg
- moil
- exert
- travail
- put out
Synonym Chooser
The words indolent and slothful are common synonyms of lazy. While all three words mean "not easily aroused to activity," lazy suggests a disinclination to work or to take trouble.
take-out foods for lazy cooks
Although the words indolent and lazy have much in common, indolent suggests a love of ease and a dislike of movement or activity.
the heat made us indolent
While in some cases nearly identical to lazy, slothful implies a temperamental inability to act promptly or speedily when action or speed is called for.
fired for being slothful about filling orders