- shiftless
- [[t]ʃɪ̱ftləs[/t]]
ADJ (disapproval)If you describe someone as shiftless, you mean that they are lazy and have no desire to achieve anything.
...a shiftless husband.
English dictionary. 2008.
shiftless
Look at other dictionaries:
Shiftless — Shift less, a. Destitute of expedients, or not using successful expedients; characterized by failure, especially by failure to provide for one s own support, through negligence or incapacity; hence, lazy; improvident; thriftless; as, a shiftless… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shiftless — index idle, improvident, indolent, irresponsible, remiss, truant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
shiftless — (adj.) wanting in resources, 1580s, from SHIFT (Cf. shift) (n.) + LESS (Cf. less). Related: Shiftlessly; shiftlessness … Etymology dictionary
shiftless — [adj] lazy apathetic, dallying, directionless, good for nothing, idle, inattentive, incompetent, indolent, lackadaisical, laggard, lagging, lethargic, lifeless, loafing, procrastinating, slack, slothful, unambitious, unenergetic, unindustrious,… … New thesaurus
shiftless — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lazy, indolent, and lacking ambition. DERIVATIVES shiftlessness noun … English terms dictionary
shiftless — [shift′lis] adj. 1. lacking the will or ability to do or accomplish; incapable, inefficient, lazy, etc. 2. showing such lack shiftlessly adv. shiftlessness n … English World dictionary
shiftless — adjective Etymology: shift (resourcefulness) Date: 1584 1. lacking in resourcefulness ; inefficient 2. lacking in ambition or incentive ; lazy < shiftless freeloaders > • shiftlessly adverb • shiftlessness … New Collegiate Dictionary
shiftless — adjective lazy and seeming to have no interest in working hard or trying to succeed: my shiftless nephew, who was never any good shiftlessly adverb shiftlessness noun … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
shiftless — adjective he thought the whole family shiftless and dishonest Syn: lazy, idle, indolent, slothful, lethargic, lackadaisical; spiritless, apathetic, feckless, good for nothing, worthless; unambitious, unenterprising … Thesaurus of popular words
shiftless — shiftlessly, adv. shiftlessness, n. /shift lis/, adj. 1. lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy. 2. lacking in incentive, ambition, or aspiration. [1555 65; SHIFT + LESS] Syn. 1. slothful, careless, indolent. * * * … Universalium
