as in boredom
physical or mental inertness faced with a class forever enveloped in a miasma of apathy and intellectual hebetude, the professor had little hope of kindling an interest in medieval European history

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hebetude The leaden weight of an irremediable idleness descended upon General Feraud, who having no resources within himself sank into a state of awe-inspiring hebetude. Ruth Walker, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hebetude
Noun
  • Puzzle toys and long walks are just two ways to keep your pets happy and ward off boredom.
    Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
  • These men would have long periods of time being idle, and the contrast between boredom and peril is pretty extreme.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The most common bacterial threats include Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea (often bloody), dehydration, fever, and lethargy.
    Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The main clinical signs of HCM are coughing and lethargy.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • In 1994 of this reimagined America, Michelle (Brown) is a rebellious foster teen who lost her family in a car accident and wants nothing to do with people, most of whom mainly exist in a VR stupor powered by Skate’s Apple-esque mega company.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
  • But Billy seems to be coming out of his post-Claudia stupor and recognizes that Olympia is picking Matty for her big assignments repeatedly.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025

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“Hebetude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hebetude. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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