Synonym Chooser

How does the noun torpor contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of torpor are languor, lassitude, lethargy, and stupor. While all these words mean "physical or mental inertness," torpor implies a state of suspended animation as of hibernating animals but may suggest merely extreme sluggishness.

a once alert mind now in a torpor

In what contexts can languor take the place of torpor?

The words languor and torpor are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, languor suggests inertia induced by an enervating climate or illness or love.

languor induced by a tropical vacation

When can lassitude be used instead of torpor?

While in some cases nearly identical to torpor, lassitude stresses listlessness or indifference resulting from fatigue or poor health.

a depression marked by lassitude

When would lethargy be a good substitute for torpor?

In some situations, the words lethargy and torpor are roughly equivalent. However, lethargy implies such drowsiness or aversion to activity as is induced by disease, injury, or drugs.

months of lethargy followed my accident

When is stupor a more appropriate choice than torpor?

While the synonyms stupor and torpor are close in meaning, stupor implies a deadening of the mind and senses by shock, narcotics, or intoxicants.

lapsed into an alcoholic stupor

Examples 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 torpor To be ready to meet the day, for example, the birds begin to rouse from their torpor about an hour before sunrise, well before visible light cues. Bob Holmes, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024 What remains of the country’s opposition is now in exile — where they have been joined by those who awakened from this torpor. Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024 And blessed be John Leguizamo for coming out at the two-hour mark to shatter the torpor with his razor-sharp ripping of DEI critics and bigots. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2024 This gestures to its deep meaning as a symbol of wisdom, of one’s awakening into knowledge from the torpor of ignorance. Archana Venkatesan, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for torpor 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torpor
Noun
  • Still, their disregard for the details in such a key moment highlighted the state of their recent play.
    Jay King, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
  • If the way Adams has handled the migrant shelter issue is any evidence of his mismanagement and ineptitude on the issue, his intention to work with Tom Homan is only evidence for his continued disregard of the humanity of our newest New Yorkers.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Having laid down incremental progress on a monthly basis, the roadmap allows for consistent checks and changes to prevent boredom or burnout.
    Tor Constantino, MBA, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
  • By his own account, Groening spent much of his childhood in Portland, Oregon, desperately keeping boredom at bay.
    Darryn King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • One day after a clip of Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley ripping JJ Redick went viral, the Lakers coach issued his own rebuttal — with indifference.
    Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
  • But Assad’s fall (and Russia’s indifference to the collapse of his regime) suggests that concern for Syria or any other client state has been subjugated by Putin to his overriding focus on dealing Ukraine a decisive defeat.
    Alexander Baunov, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Skin exposure to tea tree oil, a common essential oil, can cause vomiting, lethargy, tremors, or allergic reactions.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The hosts trailed 20-8 when Dutcher made his hands into a T … and responded with a 40-4 run to turn catastrophe into celebration, lethargy into laugher.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Symptoms of severe illness include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, stupor, tremors, seizures, paralysis, or coma.
    Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Sep. 2024
  • First, there was the chest-down, sort of squaring-up motion that drunkards do to bouncers, to be followed by a strike which could not even be conceived of in drunken stupors.
    Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 30 June 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Torpor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torpor. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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