lethargic

adjective

le·thar·gic lə-ˈthär-jik

le-

Synonyms of lethargic next

: of, relating to, or characterized by laziness or lack of energy : feeling or affected by lethargy : sluggish

The patient was weak and lethargic.

: indifferent, apathetic

The legislature was lethargic in considering the bill.

lethargically

lə-ˈthär-ji-k(ə-)lē

le-

adverb

Did you know?

In Greek mythology, Lethe was the name of a river in the underworld that was also called "the River of Unmindfulness" or "the River of Forgetfulness." Legend held that when someone died, they were given a drink of water from the river Lethe to forget all about their past life. Eventually this act of forgetting came to be associated with feelings of sluggishness, inactivity, or indifference. The name of the river and the word lethargic, as well as the related noun lethargy, all come from lēthē, Greek for "forgetfulness."

Examples of lethargic in a Sentence

You'll need to move your lure as slowly as possible to tempt the lethargic fish into feeding … —

Lenny Rudow, Boating, December 1997

… became a drifter and for a time an alcoholic and finally lapsed into lethargic self-abasement. —

Stanley Karnow, New York Times Book Review, 14 Oct. 1984

The audience was cold and lethargic. It is true there were about fifty-seven applauses, but they were not roars of enthusiasm by any means. —

Lady Bird Johnson 12 Jan. 1966, in A White House Diary, 1970

The patient is weak and lethargic. a big meal always makes me feel lethargic and sleepy

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The endangered turtle was hypothermic and lethargic, stunned by the chilly waters of Pedder Bay. —

Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024 The Suns trailed by as many as 18 points in the first quarter after a lethargic start, but fought back thanks to a game-high 33 points from Devin Booker and 30 from Kevin Durant. —

Matias Grez, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 The United States’ response to such developments has been lethargic. —

Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2024 Middle Eastern Food Standards Meet Japanese Techniques Within a few months of immigrating to America to attend UPenn’s Wharton School of Business, Khawaja started feeling foggy and lethargic. —

Andrew Watman, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lethargic