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
flac·cid·i·ty
flakˈsidətē 
÷fla(a)ˈsi-,
-idətē,
-i
variants
or less commonly flaccidness
ˈflaksə̇dnə̇s,
÷ˈfla(a)sə̇d-
plural -es
: the quality or state of being flaccid
Examples of flaccid in a Sentence
Adjective
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
Dahlia Gallin Ramirez, New Yorker, 9 June 2026
The Survivor 50 finale went exactly as expected: Aubry Bracco won the game, Joe Hunter gave another flaccid Final Tribal Council, and the live audience cheered for Cirie Fields.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 May 2026
Brennan [Lee Mulligan] has to say the word ‘flaccid’ to Becca 75 times without either of them smiling.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 5 May 2026
Leaving it out of the fridge for too long can also catapult celery into flaccid territory.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaccid
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Adjective
Once everyone in the ballroom feels tiny and flaccid, there’s really no point in fighting.
—Dahlia Gallin Ramirez, New Yorker, 9 June 2026
The Survivor 50 finale went exactly as expected: Aubry Bracco won the game, Joe Hunter gave another flaccid Final Tribal Council, and the live audience cheered for Cirie Fields.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 May 2026
Brennan [Lee Mulligan] has to say the word ‘flaccid’ to Becca 75 times without either of them smiling.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 5 May 2026
Leaving it out of the fridge for too long can also catapult celery into flaccid territory.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaccid
Cite this Entry
“Flaccid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flaccid. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
: not firm or stiff
also
: lacking normal or youthful firmness
flaccid muscles
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