indolent

[ in-dl-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful:

   an indolent person.

   Synonyms: torpid, sluggish, inactive, slow

2. Pathology. causing little or no pain; inactive or relatively benign:

   an indolent ulcer that is not painful and is slow to heal.

indolent

/ ˈɪndələnt /

adjective

1. disliking work or effort; lazy; idle
2. pathol causing little pain

   an indolent tumour

3. (esp of a painless ulcer) slow to heal

Derived Forms

• ˈindolence, noun
• ˈindolently, adverb

Other Words From

• indo·lent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of indolent¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin indolent- (stem of indolēns ), equivalent to in- in- ³ + dolent- (stem of dolēns ), present participle of dolēre “to be painful, be in pain”; dole ², -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of indolent¹

C17: from Latin indolēns not feeling pain, from in- ¹+ dolēns, from dolēre to grieve, cause distress

Synonym Study

See idle.

Example Sentences

During the summer, outdoor chairs overlook the water for the indolent; more active visitors can borrow bicycles to explore the tiny neighborhood on the Toke Point peninsula.

From Seattle Times

He did at some point own a Lake Erie steamship, which may have confused those indolent researchers Allen and Rice.

From Los Angeles Times

The truce idea was not born of naivete, but of desperation, in a country with over 110,000 disappeared and woefully indolent or over-worked police and forensics examiners.

From Seattle Times

Just when I thought I could be indolent, I’ve got to work.

From Los Angeles Times

Most of those tumors are deemed “indolent,” meaning that they don’t spread or cause bothersome symptoms.

From New York Times