: produced or performed with labor
labored breathing
also
: lacking ease of expression
a labored speech
Examples of labored in a Sentence
The patient's symptoms included a rapid pulse and labored breathing.
The movie's dialogue seems very labored.
Recent Examples on the Web
Meet Beacon, the Golden Retriever Who Had an Important Role at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials
The update added that x-rays taken on Tuesday showed fluid in Beacon’s chest cavity was at least partly responsible for the labored breathing.
—
Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024
Complemented by black-and-white footage of old races, the group conjured the labored breathing, accelerated blood flow and competitive exertion of cycling up hills, through valleys and across finish lines.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Francis' feeble voice, discernible through his labored breaths and in his native Spanish, was recorded Thursday from the hospital and broadcast to the faithful in St. Peter's Square who had gathered for the nightly recitation of the rosary prayer.
—arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2025
The latter thrives during the occasionally labored long takes, leaning on her background in improvisational comedy to listen, react, and take command as needed.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for labored
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Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024
Complemented by black-and-white footage of old races, the group conjured the labored breathing, accelerated blood flow and competitive exertion of cycling up hills, through valleys and across finish lines.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Francis' feeble voice, discernible through his labored breaths and in his native Spanish, was recorded Thursday from the hospital and broadcast to the faithful in St. Peter's Square who had gathered for the nightly recitation of the rosary prayer.
—arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2025
The latter thrives during the occasionally labored long takes, leaning on her background in improvisational comedy to listen, react, and take command as needed.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for labored
Cite this Entry
“Labored.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labored. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
labored
adjective
la·bored
ˈlā-bərd 
: produced or performed with difficulty or strain
labored breathing
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