loveless

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈlʌv.ləs/ UK /ˈlʌv.ləs/ See IPA manual

Freq #28959

Meanings

1

adj
lacking love, affection, or emotional warmth

They endured a loveless marriage held together only by duty.
2

adj
not receiving love or affection

The neglected child grew up in a loveless household.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lacking love, affection, or... unlovingaffectionlesscold

2 adj · not receiving love or... unlovedneglected

Opposites

loving affectionate devoted

Word family

Derived forms lovelesslylovelessness

Related forms loveunloved

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

loveless childhood
A period of growing up in which a person receives little or no affection.

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English loveles, formed from love + -less. The suffix marks absence, yielding both the active sense 'showing no love' and the passive sense 'receiving no love.'

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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