ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lifeless

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫaɪfɫəs// UK //lˈaɪfləs// life·less

adj. having no life or energy. You use it to describe something that is dead, or something that feels dull and boring.

adj. lacking the characteristics of living organisms; devoid of vitality, animation, or spirit. Often used figuratively to describe artistic works or environments that lack excitement.


SIMPLE

The desert landscape looked beautiful but lifeless.

CONTEXTUAL

After the long drought, the once-green fields were brown and lifeless.

COMPLEX

The critic dismissed the performance as lifeless, noting that the actors seemed to be merely reciting their lines without any emotional connection to the script.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English lyfles, lifles, from Old English līflēas (“lifeless”), equivalent to life + -less. Cognate with West Frisian libbensleas (“lifeless”), Dutch levenloos (“lifeless”), German leblos (“lifeless”), Danish livløs (“lifeless”), Swedish livlös (“lifeless”), Icelandic líflaus (“lifeless”).

Usage

Can be used both literally for dead organisms and figuratively for dull objects or performances.

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