shiftless
/ˈʃɪftlɛs/ · shift.less
adjective
- Lazy, unmotivated After a month of doing nothing, John's friends started to think he was shiftless.
- Untrustworthy as a result of being incompetent at the job The company's financial troubles were largely due to the shiftless management team.
- Destitute of shifts or expedients; lacking proper means The family was shiftless and relied on charity to get by during the economic downturn.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The word 'shiftless' was often used in the 19th century to describe people who were considered to be of lower social class, as they were seen as lacking the skills and motivation to improve their circumstances.