leaden

adjective

lead·​en ˈle-dᵊn 

1

a

: made of lead

b

: of the color of lead : dull gray

2

a

: oppressively heavy

b

: sluggish

c

: lacking spirit or animation

leadenly adverb

leadenness

ˈle-dᵊn-(n)əs 

noun

Synonyms of leaden

• boring
• slow
• weary
• dull
• tiring
• stupid
• wearying
• dusty
• heavy
• old
• dry

Examples of leaden in a Sentence

a leaden performance of a classic American play that nearly put us to sleep

the leaden sky made everything seem dark and depressing

Recent Examples on the Web

But there was nothing overstuffed or leaden about Harth-Bedoya’s interpretation. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026

Snow flurries are blowing at an angle, the sky is a leaden grey, and visibility is poor. —Vivian Song, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026

There are moments where the album’s tone skews leaden, where Shaw positions us right on the edge of despair. —Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026

If ‘Oxen’ occupies a region of Ulysses where Joyce’s exquisite ear for memorably musical sentences (‘Mild fire of wine kindled his veins’) takes a back seat to the leaden hum of meta-literature, that is no reason not to be awed by his chutzpah. —Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for leaden

• deaden
• redden
• armageddon

Kids Definition

leaden

adjective

lead·​en ˈled-ᵊn 

1

a

: made of lead

b

: of the color of lead : dull gray

2

: low in quality : poor

3

a

: heavy and difficult to move

leaden feet

b

: lacking spirit : dull