Standard Lemma guide

spiritless

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Lacking energy, drive, motivation or emotion. Enervated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The team played a spiritless first half, just going through the motions. But the realization they were playing for their sick friend energized them for the second half.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: languid, low-spirited, adiaphroistic, apathetic, apathistical, blasé, blithe, deaf, cool, shiftless, dispassionate, dull, enervated, gallionic, halfhearted, heartless, impassive, ineffervescible, insouciant, indifferent, insensible, jaded, languorous, Laodicean, lethargic, listless, lackadaisical, lotophagous, lukewarm, meh, mopey, nonchalant, nonplussed, otiose, phlegmatic, pococurante, spiritless, supine, tepid, torpid, torpedinous, unaroused, uncaring, unconcerned, unenthusiastic, unimpressible, uninterested, unlively, unmoved, untouched, unzealous, world-weary, atrabiliary, atrabilious, blitheless, dispirited, blue, bummed out, chapfallen, cheerless, chopfallen, crestfallen, cut up, damp, dejected, depressed, despondent, disgruntled, disconsolate, disheartened, dismal, doleful, dolesome, down, down in the dumps, down in the mouth, downcast, downhearted, downsome, elegiac, elegious, forlorn, gloomy, glum, grief-stricken, grieving, heavy-hearted, heartsore, heartsick, inconsolable, infelicitous, jawfallen, joyless, lachrymose, lamentful, low, lugubrious, lumpish, melancholic, melancholy, miserable, moody, morose, mournful, passionate, plaintive, Plutonian, Plutonic, querulous, ruthful, sad, saddened, saturnine, shattered, solemn, sombre, sorrowful, sorrow-ridden, sorrowsome, sullen, threnetic, threnetical, triste, tristful, uncheerful, uncheery, unconsolable, unhappy, wistful, woe, woebegone, woeful, wretched

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective

Meaning 2

lacking ardor or vigor or energy

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a spiritless reply to criticism

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: spirited

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

evidencing little spirit or courage; overly submissive or compliant- Orville Prescott

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • compliant and anxious to suit his opinions of those of others
  • a fine fiery blast against meek conformity
  • she looked meek but had the heart of a lion
  • was submissive and subservient

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: meek

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys-der.? Latin spīrō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin spīritus Old French espiritbor. Middle English spirit English spirit Proto-Indo-European *lewh1- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English spiritless From spirit + -less.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: бездушен (bezdušen) — lacking energy or emotion
  • Ancient Greek: ἄθυμος (áthumos) — lacking energy or emotion
  • Irish: anábhailleach — lacking energy or emotion
  • Irish: marbhánta — lacking energy or emotion
  • Māori: waitau — lacking energy or emotion
  • Spanish: apocado — lacking energy or emotion
  • Ottoman Turkish: كوشك (gevşek) — lacking energy or emotion