lethargic
adjective
le·thar·gic
lə-ˈthär-jik 
le-
1
2
: indifferent, apathetic
The legislature was lethargic in considering the bill.
Did you know?
In Greek mythology, Lethe was the name of a river in the underworld that was also called "the River of Unmindfulness" or "the River of Forgetfulness." Legend held that when someone died, they were given a drink of water from the river Lethe to forget all about their past life. Eventually this act of forgetting came to be associated with feelings of sluggishness, inactivity, or indifference. The name of the river and the word lethargic, as well as the related noun lethargy, all come from lēthē, Greek for "forgetfulness."
Examples of lethargic in a Sentence
You'll need to move your lure as slowly as possible to tempt the lethargic fish into feeding …
—
Lenny Rudow, Boating, December 1997
… became a drifter and for a time an alcoholic and finally lapsed into lethargic self-abasement.
—Stanley Karnow, New York Times Book Review, 14 Oct. 1984
The audience was cold and lethargic. It is true there were about fifty-seven applauses, but they were not roars of enthusiasm by any means.
—Lady Bird Johnson 12 Jan. 1966,
in A White House Diary, 1970
The patient is weak and lethargic.
a big meal always makes me feel lethargic and sleepy
Lenny Rudow, Boating, December 1997
… became a drifter and for a time an alcoholic and finally lapsed into lethargic self-abasement.
—Stanley Karnow, New York Times Book Review, 14 Oct. 1984
The audience was cold and lethargic. It is true there were about fifty-seven applauses, but they were not roars of enthusiasm by any means.
—Lady Bird Johnson 12 Jan. 1966,
in A White House Diary, 1970
The patient is weak and lethargic.
a big meal always makes me feel lethargic and sleepy
Recent Examples on the Web
At just 5 weeks old and weighing just over 4 pounds, Lilly was lethargic, withdrawn and appeared seriously unwell.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The market is lethargic nationwide, too, with 345,016 sales, down 9% in a year and 18% below average.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Warning signs for parents Altman explained that indicators a child has ingested drugs include being lethargic, having bloodshot eyes and not being able to focus on anything.
—Brenda Ordonez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Despite the Monday blues wafting through the halls of the arena, the mere sight of him causes a lethargic crowd to erupt into pandemonium.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lethargic
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Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The market is lethargic nationwide, too, with 345,016 sales, down 9% in a year and 18% below average.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
Warning signs for parents Altman explained that indicators a child has ingested drugs include being lethargic, having bloodshot eyes and not being able to focus on anything.
—Brenda Ordonez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025
Despite the Monday blues wafting through the halls of the arena, the mere sight of him causes a lethargic crowd to erupt into pandemonium.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lethargic
Cite this Entry
“Lethargic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lethargic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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