lackadaisical

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/ UK /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination

His lackadaisical attitude to deadlines frustrated his editor.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lacking enthusiasm, energy,... listless lethargic apathetic indifferent languid halfhearted unenthusiastic

Opposites

energetic enthusiastic spirited diligent zealous

Word family

Derived forms lackadaisically

Simplified etymology

Lackadaisical arose in the mid-18th century from the archaic exclamation lackaday, earlier alack-a-day, and its expanded form lackadaisy. One of its early meanings was “feebly sentimental.”

Etymology

From the archaic interjection lackadaisy (a variant of lackaday, 'alas the day'), an expression of woe, + the suffix -ical, originally describing a languishing, sighing manner.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# lackadaisical

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/

## Meanings
1. lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination

## Examples
- His lackadaisical attitude to deadlines frustrated his editor.

## Synonyms
- listless
- lethargic
- apathetic
- indifferent
- languid
- halfhearted
- unenthusiastic

## Antonyms
- energetic
- enthusiastic
- spirited
- diligent
- zealous

## Derived Forms
- lackadaisically

## Etymology
From the archaic interjection lackadaisy (a variant of lackaday, 'alas the day'), an expression of woe, + the suffix -ical, originally describing a languishing, sighing manner.

## AI Etymology
Lackadaisical comes from the archaic interjection lackadaisy (a variant of lackaday, 'alas the day'), an expression of woe, + the suffix -ical, originally describing a languishing, sighing manner. The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adjective, it carries the sense "lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Derivative forms include lackadaisically.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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