acedia

noun

Meaning

A state of listlessness, spiritual apathy, or profound indifference that leaves one unable to care about their duties or personal well-being.

Examples

  • The monk struggled with a deep sense of acedia, finding no joy in his daily prayers or chores.
  • Modern psychologists sometimes describe the burnout of the digital age as a secular form of acedia.

Synonyms: apathy, lethargy, ennui, torpor