idle

The word “idle” has 2 syllables: i-dle

It's pronounced as /ˈaɪdəl/


What is synonym and antonym for idle?

In the thesaurus, “idle” has 111 synonyms and 74 antonyms.

Here are synonyms and antonyms for idle along with examples of usage in sentences.


Synonyms for idle

Antonyms for idle

  • active
  • alive
  • ambitious
  • animated
  • apply
  • assiduous
  • bouncing
  • brisk
  • busy
  • diligent
  • drudge
  • dynamic
  • effective
  • employed
  • energetic
  • enterprising
  • exert
  • exuberant
  • feasible
  • frisky
  • functional
  • functioning
  • going
  • grind
  • grub
  • hump
  • hustle
  • hustling
  • important
  • industrious
  • jaunty
  • jazzy
  • labor
  • lively
  • living
  • moil
  • on
  • operable
  • operating
  • operational
  • operative
  • peg
  • peppy
  • perky
  • pert
  • plod
  • plow
  • plug
  • practical
  • productive
  • put out
  • running
  • sedulous
  • slave
  • snappy
  • spirited
  • sprightly
  • springy
  • sweat
  • toil
  • travail
  • usable
  • useable
  • used
  • useful
  • viable
  • vigorous
  • vivacious
  • work
  • workable
  • working
  • worthwhile
  • zealous
  • zippy

Meanings of idle

  • noun
    1. An idle animation.
    2. An idle game.
  • verb
    1. To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.
    2. To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.
    3. Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over.
  • adjective
    1. Empty, vacant.
    2. Not being used appropriately; not occupied; (of time) with no, no important, or not much activity.
    3. Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.
    4. Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
    5. Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
    6. Light-headed; foolish.

Example Sentences

  • Idle chatter filled the room as we waited for the meeting to begin.
  • Leaving machinery idle for prolonged periods can lead to mechanical issues.
  • Sarah felt idle without a project to work on, so she decided to start a new book.
  • The engine remained idle while we waited for the traffic light to change.
  • It's important not to let your mind go idle, always seek ways to keep learning and growing.

On this page you'll find 185 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to idle, such as: abeyant, abortive, active, aestivate, alive, ambitious, amble.

Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.

Related Words

abandoned

abeyance

  • cold storage
  • coma
  • deep freeze
  • discontinuation
  • doldrums
  • dormancy
  • downtime
  • hibernation
  • holding pattern
  • hypnosis
  • idleness
  • impasse
  • inaction
  • inactivity
  • inertia
  • inertness
  • intermission
  • latency
  • layoff
  • moratorium
  • motionlessness
  • postponement
  • quiescence
  • recess
  • recession
  • remission
  • repose
  • rest
  • sleep
  • slumber
  • standstill
  • suspended animation
  • suspense
  • suspension
  • temporarily deferred
  • torpor
  • waiting

abeyant

  • arrested
  • asleep
  • comatose
  • dead
  • dormant
  • dull
  • fallow
  • free
  • idle
  • inactive
  • inert
  • inoperable
  • inoperative
  • interrupted
  • latent
  • lifeless
  • moribund
  • off
  • quiescent
  • sleeping
  • sleepy
  • slow
  • suspended
  • unoccupied
  • unusable
  • unused
  • unworkable
  • useless
  • vacant

abortive

abstentious

  • abstemious
  • abstinent
  • ascetic
  • ascetical
  • austere
  • bridled
  • celibate
  • continent
  • curbed
  • disciplined
  • inhibited
  • moderate
  • modest
  • restrained
  • self-abnegating
  • self-controlled
  • self-denying
  • self-disciplined
  • self-governed
  • self-restrained
  • self-restraining
  • sober
  • temperate

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