What does indolent mean?
Indolent describes a person, action, or condition marked by a reluctance to become active or make an effort. Applied to people or behavior, it suggests laziness, passivity, and an unwillingness to act, often in a formal or literary register: an indolent student may postpone work until the last moment. The word can also convey lethargy or listlessness, though it is generally stronger and more judgment-laden than simply “tired.” In medical and scientific contexts, indolent has a more specialized meaning. It describes a lesion, tumor, or disease that develops slowly or causes little pain, as in “indolent ulcer.” This technical use ultimately reflects the word’s history: Latin indolentem meant “painless,” and English later extended the term to inactive or lazy people. Indolent is useful because it combines ordinary moral judgment with a precise medical sense. Its formal tone makes it especially effective in literary prose, historical writing, and specialist language, where “lazy” might be too blunt or insufficiently elegant.
adjectiveLazy or reluctant to exert oneself; disinclined to activity. In technical contexts, slow in development or causing little pain.
- Lacking willingness to work, exert effort, or take action.
- Progressing slowly or causing little pain, especially of a disease or lesion.
"The indolent afternoon gave way to an evening of quiet reading."
"Despite having ample time, he remained indolent and left the task unfinished."
"The clinician explained that the indolent ulcer would require long-term monitoring."
Indolent originally meant “painless,” yet it became a polite-looking synonym for lazy—an ironic journey from ease to inactivity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indolent come from?
Indolent entered English in the early 17th century through French, from Latin indolentem, a form of indolens meaning “painless” or “without pain.” The Latin word combined the negative prefix in- with dolere, “to suffer pain.” Latin had already used the term for qualities associated with freedom from pain or difficulty, while English later applied it to people and conduct in the sense “lazy” or “inactive.” Its relatives include indolence, indolently, and the Latin-derived indoles.
Related word forms
How indolent is actually used
In general use, indolent is formal or literary and often carries a mildly disapproving tone. In medicine, it is a technical term describing a slow-progressing condition or one that produces little pain.
Easily confused with indolent
Indolent means lazy or inactive, whereas insolent means rude or disrespectful.