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.

Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. —

Kate Gibson, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2024 Earlier this month, a post on a Bay View neighborhood Facebook group showed a lethargic raccoon near Delaware Avenue. —

Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2024 Symptoms of Salmonella infections in pets Pets with Salmonella infections may act lethargic, the FDA says. —

Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024 After a lethargic opening episode, this one doesn’t inspire a ton of hope for the final four. —

Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lethargic