The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
shiftless — index idle, improvident, indolent, irresponsible, remiss, truant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
shiftless — (adj.) wanting in resources, 1580s, from SHIFT (Cf. shift) (n.) + LESS (Cf. less). Related: Shiftlessly; shiftlessness … Etymology dictionary
shiftless — [adj] lazy apathetic, dallying, directionless, good for nothing, idle, inattentive, incompetent, indolent, lackadaisical, laggard, lagging, lethargic, lifeless, loafing, procrastinating, slack, slothful, unambitious, unenergetic, unindustrious,… … New thesaurus
shiftless — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lazy, indolent, and lacking ambition. DERIVATIVES shiftlessness noun … English terms dictionary
shiftless — [shift′lis] adj. 1. lacking the will or ability to do or accomplish; incapable, inefficient, lazy, etc. 2. showing such lack shiftlessly adv. shiftlessness n … English World dictionary
shiftless — [[t]ʃɪ̱ftləs[/t]] ADJ (disapproval) If you describe someone as shiftless, you mean that they are lazy and have no desire to achieve anything. ...a shiftless husband … English dictionary
shiftless — adjective Etymology: shift (resourcefulness) Date: 1584 1. lacking in resourcefulness ; inefficient 2. lacking in ambition or incentive ; lazy < shiftless freeloaders > • shiftlessly adverb • shiftlessness … New Collegiate Dictionary
shiftless — adjective lazy and seeming to have no interest in working hard or trying to succeed: my shiftless nephew, who was never any good shiftlessly adverb shiftlessness noun … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
shiftless — adjective he thought the whole family shiftless and dishonest Syn: lazy, idle, indolent, slothful, lethargic, lackadaisical; spiritless, apathetic, feckless, good for nothing, worthless; unambitious, unenterprising … Thesaurus of popular words
shiftless — shiftlessly, adv. shiftlessness, n. /shift lis/, adj. 1. lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy. 2. lacking in incentive, ambition, or aspiration. [1555 65; SHIFT + LESS] Syn. 1. slothful, careless, indolent. * * * … Universalium
