thirstless

Thirstless is an adjective meaning without thirst or without a desire to drink. It can describe a person who feels no need for liquid, but it is also used in more literary descriptions of places or conditions that seem to lack water’s refreshment. The word is uncommon in everyday conversation, where speakers usually say “not thirsty” or “unthirsty.” Its distinctive value is stylistic: it compresses a physical condition into a single, slightly elegant term and can evoke absence, dryness, or the lack of something ordinarily expected. Although “thirstless” may sound like the opposite of “thirsty,” it is more precise than “dry” when the focus is on a person’s lack of thirst and more evocative than “waterless” when the focus is on a scene or atmosphere. The suffix “-less” contributes the idea of absence, just as it does in words such as “restless” or “fearless.”

Having little or no thirst or desire to drink. In literary use, it can also describe a place or condition perceived as lacking water or refreshment.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Etymology of thirstless

Thirstless is a transparent English formation from “thirst” and the suffix “-less,” meaning “without” or “lacking.” “Thirst” is an Old English word of Germanic origin, while “-less” continues an Old English and Germanic formation expressing absence. The related forms “thirsty” and “thirstily” belong to the same lexical family.

Related word forms

How thirstless is actually used

Somewhat literary and uncommon in everyday conversation. In ordinary speech, “not thirsty” or “unthirsty” is more natural.

Easily confused with thirstless

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Rhymes with thirstless