Definitions

idle

[ahyd-l] / ˈaɪd l /

ADJECTIVE

worthless, ineffective

Synonyms

STRONGEST

empty unproductive useless

STRONG

hollow rambling

WEAK

abortive bootless frivolous fruitless futile groundless insignificant irrelevant not serious nugatory of no avail otiose pointless superficial trivial unavailing unhelpful unnecessary unsuccessful vain

Antonyms

WEAK

active ambitious busy diligent effective employed hustling important productive used working worthwhile

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Appeared in the June 3, 2026, print edition as 'American Idle: The Work Ethic Goes Out of Style'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

The two other surviving Python members, John Cleese and Eric Idle, also supported the campaign.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Idle factory floors and a growing pool of laid-off skilled workers are being redirected into the only sector still expanding at scale.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Though his admin tasks may tire him, Idle said comedy never does.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

There was that weird incident at the Idle Hour when Brian saw me with Phil, but I don’t think being a jerk qualifies as a reportable offense.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

Vocabulary lists containing idle

Some Tricky Homonyms

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The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer

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List 8

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!