Gloss · Words · Lethargic

lethargic

ləˈθɑːrdʒɪkadjective

What does lethargic mean?

Sluggish and tired, with no energy to do anything.

Lethargic, six ways

PlainSluggish and tired, with no energy to do anything.
ADHDNo energy. Heavy. Slow. Couch.
Gen ZThat can’t-get-off-the-couch feeling, all day.
MetaphorA battery at four percent.
FormalAffected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic.
Like I’m 5Feeling so tired and slow you don’t want to do anything. That’s lethargic.

How to pronounce lethargic

luh-THAR-jik/ləˈθɑːrdʒɪk/

Lethargic in a sentence

The heat made everyone lethargic.
I’m too lethargic to cook tonight.
Heat and humidity leave crops and people lethargic.

Synonyms for lethargic

sluggishSlow, of bodies or markets.
drowsySleepy rather than drained.
languidSlow, and enjoying it.

Lethargic vs languid: Lethargic is heavy and slow and does not want to be. Languid is slow on purpose, and rather elegant. The difference, in plain English.

Where lethargic comes from

Greek. Lēthargos, forgetful, from lēthē, forgetfulness, the river of the underworld whose water made the dead forget.

Good to know

Lethargic is low energy you don’t want. The noun is lethargy. Unusual, lasting lethargy is worth mentioning to a doctor.

Lethargic meaning, on a Gloss card: Sluggish and tired, with no energy to do anything.

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Lethargic on one card: what it means, how to say it, and a sentence. Keep it, or pin it for later.

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Words like lethargic

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In: Words for feelings · SAT words