1
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
a torpid sloth that refused to budge off its tree branch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling
my tongue and throat remained torpid for a time following the endoscopy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of torpid
This lowers the body temperature so much that a torpid hummingbird maintains a hypothermic threshold that nears death.
—
Janaya Wecker, Good Housekeeping, 10 Aug. 2022
Inside, though, Ingrid is in a state of torpid discontent, unhappy with her circumstances but unsure of how to change them.
—Sarah Chihaya, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022
The water was so torpid that a thick layer of dust had settled onto it, giving it a cheerless brown tinge.
—Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022
The ongoing slog has come to symbolize the dilemma multinationals face when confronting Germany’s notoriously torpid bureaucracy.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2022
See all Example Sentences for torpid 
Janaya Wecker, Good Housekeeping, 10 Aug. 2022
Inside, though, Ingrid is in a state of torpid discontent, unhappy with her circumstances but unsure of how to change them.
—Sarah Chihaya, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022
The water was so torpid that a thick layer of dust had settled onto it, giving it a cheerless brown tinge.
—Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022
The ongoing slog has come to symbolize the dilemma multinationals face when confronting Germany’s notoriously torpid bureaucracy.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2022
See all Example Sentences for torpid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torpid
Adjective
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Unlike other beach towns in Texas, Matagorda Bay is sleepy.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Penrod, 85, spent much of his life transforming Miami Beach through his ownership of bars and restaurants, helping change the city from a once sleepy retirement community into a resort destination.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Dedra Simpson isn’t numb to the New Year’s Day tragedy.—
Ira Porter,
The Christian Science Monitor,
6 Feb. 2025
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The Columbia Moisture-control Crew Socks are perfect for keeping your toes warm and dry during outdoor adventures without worrying about numb toes.—
Michelle Polizzi,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For a company known for its ingenuity, Disney seemed to phone it in this year by spending their precious millions on a dull ad that imagines a universe without their iconic IP.—
Rob LeDonne,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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The female is dull yellow-green without any markings.—
Stan Tekiela,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The changes will radically overhaul domestic production, giving a dramatic boost to a TV industry struggling to stay afloat, with the Czech public broadcaster beset by financial woes and global streaming platforms sluggish to enter the local market.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2025
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As activity began to rebound from pandemic lows, the recovery at O’Hare, long a linchpin in the nation’s air system, remained sluggish, as business travel was slow to return and one of the airport’s major airlines began to shift focus elsewhere.—
Sarah Freishtat,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Jeong was asleep with his three children at the time of the fire.—
Graeme Taskerud,
The Denver Post,
13 Feb. 2025
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In the image shared on Instagram, taken by mom Sofia, the little royal appears to be asleep on her side under a blanket while wearing a white and pink outfit.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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These signs include being lethargic, becoming overexcitable when receiving attention, showing destructive behaviors, appetite changes and changes in vocalizations.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
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The other sea lion, a 6-month-old pup, was rescued after it was seen in Point Loma, isolated, underweight and lethargic, rescuers said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacramento Bee,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This large, circulating cloud of material, including hot gases enriched in oxygen, was found to be absent from quiescent galaxies that had ceased star formation.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 Jan. 2025
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There is no guarantee that the crisis will remain quiescent for much longer.—
Richard Nephew,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near torpid
Cite this Entry
“Torpid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torpid. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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