Question:

Choose the correct synonym out of the four choices given.

Lethargy

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Lethargy is about having no energy or drive, not about being calm or emotionless.
Updated On: Jul 17, 2026
  • Serenity
  • listlessness
  • impassivity
  • laxity
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Lethargy means a state of heavy tiredness, low energy and no wish to move or do anything. A person in lethargy feels sluggish and drained. The synonym we want must carry that same lack of energy and drive, not merely a calm mood or a loose habit.

  1. Serenity: This means calmness and peace of mind. A serene person is untroubled but can be fully alert and active. Lethargy is not peace, it is a dull heaviness that a person usually does not enjoy. The two words agree only in being quiet states, which is not enough.
  2. listlessness: This means having no energy, no interest and no wish to do anything. That is exactly what lethargy describes. A listless person, like a lethargic one, sits about with no drive to move. Both words also point to the same feel of being physically drained, which makes this the closest match.
  3. impassivity: This means showing no emotion or reaction. An impassive face gives nothing away. That is about feeling and expression, not about energy. A person can be impassive and still work hard all day, so the word misses the tiredness at the heart of lethargy.
  4. laxity: This means slackness or carelessness, usually about rules and standards, as in laxity in enforcing discipline. It is a fault in how strictly something is done, not a state of low bodily or mental energy. It sits near lethargy in the loose sense of "not tight", but it does not mean the same thing.

So the answer is (B). Listlessness is the word that matches lethargy in both senses, the tiredness and the lack of interest.

Let's summarize:

  • Lethargy is low energy plus no wish to act, so test each option against both halves.
  • Serenity is calm, impassivity is showing no emotion, laxity is slackness about standards. None of the three carries low energy.
  • Listlessness carries both halves and is the standard dictionary synonym.

The correct synonym of lethargy is listlessness, option (B).

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