Word
soulless
Phoneticssoul·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsoʊɫɫəs/
UK/sˈəʊlɛs/
Definition
adj. having no feeling or spirit. You use this to describe a person who is very cold or a place that feels empty and boring.
adj. lacking emotional depth, warmth, or spiritual quality. Often used to describe environments or individuals perceived as cold, mechanical, or devoid of humanity.
Examples
“The new office building feels soulless and cold.”
“He gave a soulless performance that failed to connect with the audience or show any real emotion.”
“The rapid urbanization of the valley resulted in a soulless landscape where the natural beauty had been replaced by identical concrete structures.”
Examples
simple
“The new office building feels soulless and cold.”
contextual
“He gave a soulless performance that failed to connect with the audience or show any real emotion.”
complex
“The rapid urbanization of the valley resulted in a soulless landscape where the natural beauty had been replaced by identical concrete structures.”
Real-World Examples
“Two going on four and five, maybe six on what was a poor pitch in a soulless stadium, save for the visiting fans, who made a racket, as ever.” Etymology
From Middle English soulelez; equivalent to soul + -less. Compare Old English sāwollēas; the Middle English word likely is a re-formation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/soulless