what is the opposite of ambition?

Answer 1

ambition

Definition: strong desire for success
Antonyms: apathy, contentment, diffidence, humility, indifference, laziness, satisfaction

Answer 2

Ambition is usually defined as 'a strong drive for success'.

In that sense, I don't think lazy is a very good opposite, which is usually defined as 'disinclined to work or exertion'. Though I'll grant that it's close. Apathy likewise usually means a lack of interest or enthusiasm... and I can imagine unambitious people who are quite enthusiastic about things that don't make them successful. So apathy only seems to work if it's exclusive to success itself.

I think a less common word - shiftless - works better. This is defined as 'characterized by lack of ambition or initiative'. It's a subtle difference, but it seems to have an implication for all life instead of just work or physical exertion.

Sabotage (to me) seems right out. After all, some people make their careers or gain fame through sabotage... an ambitious saboteur doesn't seem like a contradiction in terms at all.

Answer 3

Apathy - no ambition in the sense of not caring
Contentment/Satisfaction - no ambition to change due to being happy
Laziness/Sloth - no ambition in the sense of lack of effort

Ambition is the drive to change whether is stems from dissatisfaction, will, or a sense of importance placed on an issue.

To be ambitious, you need energy, motive and willpower. Lacking these things will lead to the opposite of ambition in one way or the other.

Answer 4

Antonym For Ambition

Answer 5

Tradition or doing something the same way because everyone else is doing it.
Apathy not wanting goals for yourself or others.
Escapism losing ones self to a different bent on the world or life i.e. reading a book one after another, drugs or even a game because you can't stand your own life.
Defeatism feeling no matter what you do it is never enough or will get you ahead. maybe just as simple as you feel you don't deserve it.
I have a few more but will be late for work if I list all of them gotta go though.

Answer 6

My first thought is laziness or apathy, but really, both of those terms mean a lack of action.

Many ambitious and talented people are sidetracked by apathy or laziness.

Opposite of ambition would be somebody who actually has no goals or desires. The ambitionless person, ha ha, would aim to be lazy! (almost)

So, perhaps, the word is Goal-lessness?

Answer 7

Nora's answer is the most interesting.

Take a standard definition "Motivated towards achieving a goal; the state of being motivated": the negation of this definition is many-fold.

1)Motivated against achievement
the negation of directionality, self-sabotage

2)Unmotivated. Lacking activity, passivity.

3) Motivated towards achieving a non-goal
In this case, motivated for no reason, either random activity, or activity directed nowhere, activity for its own sake.

The ambitious, in my estimation, often encounter (3) and mistake it for ambition. There is a difference between being goal-directed, and "seeking success", which is an indefinite affair.

Answer 8

contentment

because you are happy where you are. ambition is never being satisfied with where you are, and wanting more. it could also be non contentment with your life too though, so cant really be seen as a positive thing all the time. sometimes we just cant get any higher.

lack of ambition may be lazy, but who's view are you taking? the view of you looking at them, or of them looking at you? they may be lazy, but really, they are just content with their life as it is. its all perspective really. so to answer this truthfully you would have to look at it from their point of view, because you looked at ambition from your own point of view. with anything, you need to answer other peoples views from their point of reference, or the answer becomes bias.

Answer 9

Indifference.

Answer 10

Sabotage.

Destroying the fruits of others' labor is not only opposite, it has an opposing effect.

Answer 11

Antithesis! What is the antithesis of ambition?