indolent
Adjective
Hard difficulty
What does “indolent” mean?
adjective.wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in contexts discussing character traits, particularly in literature or psychology passages. It emphasizes a willful avoidance of effort or ambition, suggesting a deeper critique of passivity, in contrast to similar words like "slothful," which may carry a more moral judgment about laziness.
Common Confusions
Indolent implies a deliberate avoidance of effort, while lethargic usually suggests a state of sluggishness or fatigue without the connotation of choice.
Do not choose indolent if the context emphasizes activity or industriousness rather than wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
Example Sentences
-
The indolent girl resisted doing her homework.
Word Parts: How to Remember “indolent”
Break “indolent” into its parts: in- (not). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.
-
Prefix:
in-not (Latin)