Meaning & use
effortless
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Done so smoothly that no strain or struggle is visible.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after a linking verb: an effortless win, her serve looked effortless.
Patterns
- look effortless
- an effortless victory
The pianist's playing looked effortless, although she had practiced for years.
He made the climb seem effortless.
The team's effortless win surprised even their fans.
adjectivecomparableapproving
Natural and graceful, as if it takes no work.
Grammar: Often describes style, grace or elegance: effortless style.
Patterns
- effortless style
- effortless grace
She has an effortless sense of style that makes plain clothes look elegant.
The dancer moved with effortless grace.
His effortless charm made everyone feel welcome.
Word forms
| comparative | more effortless |
|---|---|
| superlative | most effortless |
Common combinations
- effortless grace
- The skater glided with effortless grace.
- effortless victory
- The champion took an effortless victory.
- effortless style
- Her effortless style made her a fashion icon.
- look effortless
- Good teachers make hard topics look effortless.
- seem effortless
- The transition seemed effortless.
Synonyms and how they differ
- easy
- Easy describes a simple task, whereas effortless often praises skill that hides hard work.
- smooth
- Smooth stresses the lack of bumps in the process, while effortless stresses the lack of visible strain.
- graceful
- Graceful describes elegant movement, but effortless emphasizes that no work seems needed.
- simple
- Simple means not complicated, which is different from effortless, meaning done without visible strain.
Opposites
Word family
- effort noun
- physical or mental energy used to do something
- effortlessly adverb
- in a way that seems to take no work
- effortlessness noun
- the quality of seeming easy
- effortful adjective
- needing a lot of work
Commonly confused: effortless or careless?
effortless vs careless
Careless means done without attention, while effortless means done without visible strain, often with great skill.
Practice
The gymnast's routine looked ______, even though it required years of training.
Choose one answer.
Effortless describes something that seems easy despite being hard. Effortful is the opposite, and careless and reluctant describe other qualities.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “effortless”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.