spiritless

IPA/ˈspɪrɪtləs/
IPA/ˈspɪrɪtləs/

spiritless — adjective

  • spiritlesspositive
  • more spiritlesscomparative
  • most spiritlesssuperlative

1. showing almost no energy, enthusiasm, or inner life, so a person, voice, or perf

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

showing almost no energy, enthusiasm, or inner life, so a person, voice, or performance feels flat and dull.

Example

After the overnight flight, Emma gave a spiritless wave from the taxi line.

attributive use: spiritless + wave

The class sounded spiritless during practice after their music teacher called in sick.

predicative: sound + spiritless

Common collocations
  • spiritless voice
  • spiritless smile
  • spiritless reply
  • spiritless performance
  • spiritless meeting
Synonyms
  • listless

    very close, but often stresses weak movement or tiredness more than flat expression

  • apathetic

    focuses more on not caring than on lacking visible energy

  • subdued

    suggests being quieter or held back, not necessarily drained of spirit

Antonyms
  • spirited

    full of lively energy, force, or courage

  • lively

    the everyday opposite for active, bright behaviour

  • animated

    suggests eager expression and energetic movement

Grammar Patterns

feel / seem / sound + spiritless

spiritless + voice / smile / reply / performance

Usage Note

Often describes a person's manner, voice, face, or work when tiredness, sadness, or boredom has drained their energy. Common after linking verbs like sound, seem, and feel, and before nouns such as reply, smile, or performance.

Common Mistakes

The soup tasted spiritless after it cooled.
The soup tasted bland after it cooled.
'spiritless' describes people, behaviour, or performances, not food with weak flavour.
Shanti felt spirited after failing the test.
Shanti felt spiritless after failing the test.
'spirited' is the opposite and means full of energy or courage.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five suggest low energy, but they point to different causes or effects. 'Spiritless' focuses on the outward flatness of a person's manner, voice, or work, as if the inner spark has drained away. 'Listless' is the closest match, but it often suggests tired, weak movement rather than expression. 'Apathetic' shifts the focus to attitude: the person does not care enough to react. 'Subdued' is softer and can be temporary, especially after shock, embarrassment, or a serious event. 'Lifeless' is broader and stronger, and it can describe rooms, pictures, or writing as well as people. Compare: a spiritless reply, a listless walk, an apathetic shrug, a subdued crowd, and a lifeless performance.

spiritless ↗listless ↗apathetic ↗subdued ↗lifeless ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • look spiritless
  • sound spiritless
  • grow spiritless

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Spiritless is formed from 'spirit' and the suffix '-less'. 'Spirit' came into English through Old French from Latin 'spiritus', first meaning 'breath' and then the inner force that gives life, courage, or energy. The suffix '-less', from Old English, means 'without'. Put together, spiritless literally means 'without spirit', which explains why the modern word is used for people, voices, or performances that seem drained of energy or enthusiasm.