1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
a leaden performance of a classic American play that nearly put us to sleep
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grey
of the color gray
the leaden sky made everything seem dark and depressing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leaden
And treading water is making my legs and arms feel leaden.
—
Lizz Schumer, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
The subtext becomes text, and the film isn’t quite scary enough to make up for its mostly leaden message.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
But Betancourt’s approach feels leaden with reference and citation, too often leaning on a catalog of cultural properties to advance an argument that is, at its heart, empirical.
—Jake Nevins, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Humor — both black and camp — is the key here, unlike the often-leaden film which relied on special effects rather than a sharp script and knowing comic direction for its wow factor.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for leaden
Lizz Schumer, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
The subtext becomes text, and the film isn’t quite scary enough to make up for its mostly leaden message.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
But Betancourt’s approach feels leaden with reference and citation, too often leaning on a catalog of cultural properties to advance an argument that is, at its heart, empirical.
—Jake Nevins, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Humor — both black and camp — is the key here, unlike the often-leaden film which relied on special effects rather than a sharp script and knowing comic direction for its wow factor.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for leaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaden
Adjective
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Stick with boring investments to avoid big mistakes from get-rich-quick schemes.—
Jonathan I. Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Hosting every summit in a big European city would alleviate much of the pressure to re-invent the wheel every time with respect to hotels, transit, and other boring but essential logistical details.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Dark grey smoke could be seen billowing as the explosion occurred during a time-lapse video shared by ABC affiliate WTAE.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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The former Michigan Wolverine led the grey team, coached by UConn’s associate head coach Kimani Young, to a blowout, 73-36 win over first-year assistant Mike Nardi’s blue squad.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Three organic meats are on offer for Sunday roast: slow roasted Black Angus, with creamed horseradish; succulent Tamworth Pork with bramley apple sauce and Texel Lamb with a classic mint sauce.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Her mother sat on the living-room couch in a gray sweatshirt, holding a pink Stanley cup.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
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The shots came from a gray Dodge Charger just before 7 a.m. Sheriff’s officials said a caller told dispatchers they were fired upon after yelling at the Dodge’s driver for throwing trash onto the roadway.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Many senior party and military leaders, weary after years of a punishing civil war, were reluctant to go up against the strongest force in the world.—
M. Taylor Fravel,
Foreign Affairs,
18 July 2025
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There’s no rest for the weary — or in this case, the Florida Panthers.—
Kaitlyn Pohly,
Miami Herald,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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The driver of the Hyundai failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee that was traveling west on Lexington.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
14 Aug. 2025
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Interested in bringing a hint of metallic into your living room, similar to how all the It-girls are donning silver sneakers as part of the latest footwear obsession?—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The shampoo won't clean as well and can leave behind residue that makes your hair look dull and lifeless.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Aug. 2025
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With major season getting over, August is dull, and McIlroy's absence has become a lightning rod for debates about player responsibility and the Tour's authority.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Superman’s meh international returns can also be understood as reflective of the worldwide audience tiring of Hollywood’s cultural diktats.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
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With both sets of players tiring, the best chance of the 30-minute period would fall to substitute Salma Paralluelo, who could not divert Batlle’s cross towards goal from four yards out.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaden. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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