1
a
: not firm or stiff
also
: lacking normal or youthful firmness
flaccid muscles
b
of a plant part
: deficient in turgor
2
: lacking vigor or force
flaccid leadership
Examples of flaccid in a Sentence
Virgil Thomson, in his review of the evening, called the libretto "flaccid and spineless," but that is unfair. It is a witty piece of writing.
—
J. D. McClatchy, New Republic, 29 Nov. 1993
Her hands are long and slim, delicate, as Dorothy's were; her handshake is flaccid, her smile is sweet but unconvincing.
—Richard Bausch, Esquire, August 1990
Half must have been, of course, men and women over fifty and their bodies reflected the pull of their character … many a man had a flaccid paunch …
—Norman Mailer, Harper's, November 1968
the flaccid stalks of celery that had been around for far too long
J. D. McClatchy, New Republic, 29 Nov. 1993
Her hands are long and slim, delicate, as Dorothy's were; her handshake is flaccid, her smile is sweet but unconvincing.
—Richard Bausch, Esquire, August 1990
Half must have been, of course, men and women over fifty and their bodies reflected the pull of their character … many a man had a flaccid paunch …
—Norman Mailer, Harper's, November 1968
the flaccid stalks of celery that had been around for far too long
Recent Examples on the Web
Wen: Acute flaccid myelitis is a condition that has only recently been named, in 2014.
—Faye Chiu, CNN, 23 Sep. 2024
Because despite these three strong performances, The Cut can't overcome its overwrought script by Justin Bull (with a story from Mark Lane) and Sean Ellis' flaccid direction.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2024
Starmer has to create a virtuous circle in which a radical renewal of the United Kingdom’s sclerotic democracy feeds into and is in turn fed by an energetic revival of its flaccid economy.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2024
There are flaccid attempts to build stories within that structure, including trips home to meet the girls’ families and the revelation of various heartbreaking secrets.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for flaccid 
Faye Chiu, CNN, 23 Sep. 2024
Because despite these three strong performances, The Cut can't overcome its overwrought script by Justin Bull (with a story from Mark Lane) and Sean Ellis' flaccid direction.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2024
Starmer has to create a virtuous circle in which a radical renewal of the United Kingdom’s sclerotic democracy feeds into and is in turn fed by an energetic revival of its flaccid economy.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2024
There are flaccid attempts to build stories within that structure, including trips home to meet the girls’ families and the revelation of various heartbreaking secrets.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for flaccid
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flaccid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flaccid
Cite this Entry
“Flaccid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flaccid. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
: not firm or stiff
also
: lacking normal or youthful firmness
flaccid muscles
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