labored

adjective

la·​bored ˈlā-bərd How to pronounce labored (audio)
: 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 Only her breathing, noisy and labored, distinguished her. Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 10 Sep. 2023 But his speaking appeared labored and slightly slurred, and he was guided elsewhere within minutes. Annie Karni, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023 But the music that accompanies the labored acceleration up mountain grades is worth however many vacation days a flatlander's journey may take. Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2023 Spiral staircases at sides of the stage serve for dramatic, and sometime labored, entrances and exits. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2023 The 4-year-old fell to her side near the 3/16 pole with labored breathing and died on the track, suffering from severe weakness in her hind limbs. Caleb Wiegandt, The Courier-Journal, 20 June 2023 As the many flashbacks to Palestine help to reconstruct Nuha’s past life and disclose the family’s labored history, Betty begins to construct and then own her new one. Robert Allen Papinchak | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023 If a child's breathing becomes labored or the child appears to be blue from lack of oxygen, Ragsdale advised calling for emergency medical help. Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal, 25 Oct. 2022 Respiratory symptoms that require urgent medical attention include fast or labored breathing. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 25 Oct. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'labored.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of labored was in 1566

Dictionary Entries Near labored

Cite this Entry

“Labored.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labored. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

labored

adjective
la·​bored
ˈlā-bərd
: produced or done with labor
labored breathing

Medical Definition

labored

adjective
la·​bored ˈlā-bərd How to pronounce labored (audio)
: produced or performed with difficulty or strain
labored breathing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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