Idler — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈī-dᵊl-ər/

Meaning & Definition of Idler

Idler (noun)

  1. one who spends time idly, an idle, inactive, or lazy person
  2. idler pulley
  3. idler wheel

Idler (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a lazy person

    "the hot weather turned us into a bunch of idlers"

    similar: couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, drone, layabout, lazybones, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard
    related: bum, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, crawler, creeper, dawdler, laggard, putterer, slowpoke, snail, stick-in-the-mud, straggler, clock-watcher, goldbrick, malingerer, shirker, slacker, dallier, lingerer, loiterer, loller, lounger, saunterer, delayer, procrastinator, dropout, quitter
    opposite: doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler, self-starter
    near: achiever, comer, highflier, live wire, powerhouse

Related Entry: Idle (adjective)

Idle is a different word from Idler. The synonyms below are for idle, not for idler.

  1. not being in a state of use, activity, or employment

    "the car was idle for two weeks while they went on vacation"

    "the company's competitors have not been idle in developing rival products"

    similar: dead, dormant, fallow, free, inactive, inert, inoperative, latent, off, unused, vacant, at rest, on the shelf, out of commission
    related: abeyant, arrested, interrupted, suspended, unoccupied, asleep, comatose, lifeless, moribund, quiescent, sleepy, inoperable, unusable, unworkable, useless, dull, slow
    opposite: active, alive, busy, employed, functioning, going, living, on, operating, operative, running, working
    near: functional, operable, operational, workable, assiduous, industrious, sedulous, energetic, vigorous, feasible, practical, usable, useful, viable

  2. not easily aroused to action or work

    "an idle employee who always seems to be either on break or at lunch"

    similar: indolent, lazy, shiftless, slothful
    related: apathetic, drowsy, dull, inert, languorous, lazyish, lethargic, listless, quiescent, sleepy, sluggish, supine, torpid
    opposite: industrious
    near: ambitious, diligent, enterprising, zealous, active, animated, bouncing, brisk, dynamic, energetic, exuberant, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, pert, snappy, spirited, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vivacious, zippy

Related Entry: Idle (verb)

Idle is a different word from Idler. The synonyms below are for idle, not for idler.

  1. to spend time doing nothing

    "she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester"

    "we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire"

    similar: bum, chill, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), hang about (British), kick around, kick back, laze, lazy, loaf, loll, lounge, veg out, kill time, twiddle one's thumbs
    related: fiddle (around), fool, mess, monkey, muck, piddle, play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle, doze, estivate, hibernate, lag, linger, loiter, poke, relax, rest, tarry, amble, mosey, saunter, stroll, swan, furlough, goldbrick, malinger, truant
    near: drudge, grind, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg, plod, plow, plug, slave, sweat, toil, travail, work, apply, buckle (down), exert, put out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Idler

The most common words with a similar meaning to Idler:

couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, drone, layabout, lazybones, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch, slug, slugabed, sluggard

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Idler

Words with the opposite meaning of Idler:

doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler, self-starter

Related Words for Idler

bum, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, crawler, creeper, dawdler, laggard, putterer, slowpoke, snail, stick-in-the-mud, straggler, clock-watcher, goldbrick, malingerer, shirker, slacker, dallier, lingerer, loiterer, loller, lounger, saunterer, delayer, procrastinator, dropout, quitter

Near Antonyms of Idler

achiever, comer, highflier, live wire, powerhouse

Word Forms of Idler

Inflections: idlers

Origin & Etymology of Idler

First known use: 1534

Words & Phrases Containing Idler

idler pulley, idler wheel

Frequently Asked Questions about Idler

What does "Idler" mean?

"Idler" means one who spends time idly, an idle, inactive, or lazy person. As a noun, it is defined as: one who spends time idly, an idle, inactive, or lazy person.

What is another word for "Idler"?

Other words for "Idler" include couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, drone, layabout, lazybones, loafer and lotus-eater. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Idler" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Idler"?

There are 39 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Idler". Common alternatives include couch potato, deadbeat, do-nothing, drone, layabout, lazybones, loafer, lotus-eater, slouch and slug.

What is the opposite of "Idler"?

Antonyms of "Idler" include doer, go-ahead, go-getter, hummer, hustler and self-starter. Near antonyms include achiever, comer, highflier and live wire.

How do you use "Idler" in a sentence?

Examples of "Idler" in a sentence: "the hot weather turned us into a bunch of idlers".

Is "Idler" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Idler" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Idler"?

"Idler" is pronounced /ˈī-dᵊl-ər/.

What is the origin of the word "Idler"?

First known use: 1534.