spiritless

[ spir-it-lis ]

adjective

1. without spirit.
2. without ardor, vigor, zeal, animation, etc.:

   a spiritless reply to criticism.

ˈspiritless

/ ˈspɪrɪtlɪs /

adjective

1. lacking courage or liveliness; melancholic

Derived Forms

• ˈspiritlessness, noun
• ˈspiritlessly, adverb

Other Words From

• spirit·less·ly adverb
• spirit·less·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritless¹

First recorded in 1560–70; spirit + -less

Example Sentences

Their strategy to constantly highlight Trump’s perceived shortcomings — combined with Trump’s plan to attack Biden in brutally personal terms — sets up an spiritless campaign that many Americans said they didn’t want but will have to decide in November anyway.

From Seattle Times

The market now sees almost $400 million in annual sales, and with that newfound prevalence, there are definitely better options for a spiritless cocktail, but a big question still remains: What should those beverages be called?

From Salon

Likewise, the logic of Chris as a monster is never really mapped out, offering him only as a spiritless symbol of Vicaria’s attempts to grapple with her loss using the methods she knows and understands best.

From Los Angeles Times

Shipp started the label because he was disappointed by assembly-line gospel records that sounded flat and spiritless in the early ’70s.

From New York Times

You don’t have to look further than the pedestrian title to guess that Matt Ruskin’s “Boston Strangler” is a spiritless affair.

From New York Times