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.

Company executives knew idle transmission lines could spark wildfires.

From Los Angeles Times

The boat idled on past, looking for another place to get through—but the sea lions followed.

From Literature

It is idle and foolish to pretend otherwise.

From The Wall Street Journal

Waiting much longer carried risks that idled equipment could become frozen and difficult to restart.

From The Wall Street Journal

Horses idled in the shade of colonial buildings, waiting for carriages to fill with visitors.

From Barron's