lethargic

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adjective le·thar·gic \lə-ˈthär-jik, le-\

Definition of lethargic

1 : of, relating to, or characterized by laziness or lack of energy : feeling or affected by lethargy : sluggish The patient was weak and lethargic.
2 : indifferent, apathetic The legislature was lethargic in considering the bill.

lethargically

play \lə-ˈthär-ji-k(ə-)lē, le-\ adverb

See lethargic defined for English-language learners

lethargic was our Word of the Day on 04/29/2017. Hear the podcast!

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

Recent Examples of lethargic from the Web

The driver, who said he was headed to a friend's house in Maple Heights, slurred his words and acted lethargic.

— john benson, cleveland.com, "Cleveland man arrested for drunken driving: Brecksville Police Blotter", 1 June 2017
Among the others, one suffered increasing insomnia, and one became more lethargic and slept more than the others.

— michael nedelman, CNN, "Astronauts struggle to sleep among the stars", 1 June 2017
Gilbert said Lacy told him that Khalil had been lethargic all day, not wanting to eat or play.

— deanna boyd, star-telegram, "Somebody beat Khalil Gilbert to death, but his killer remains free", 31 May 2017
Throughout the last 12 months, while there’s been glimmers of the virtually unbeatable Djokovic tennis fans had become accustomed to watching, there’s been way more periods of stagnant, lethargic performances in need of a major mental boost.

— sandra harwitt, USA TODAY, "With Andre Agassi on his side, Novak Djokovic pushes through rusty start", 29 May 2017
The road doesn’t get easier for the lethargic Orioles, who will return home for the first of seven games against the two teams ahead of them in the American League East standings, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Astros score 6 off Asher in 2nd, win, 8-4, to extend Orioles' slide to 7 -- longest since 2011", 28 May 2017
Apps such as Google Sky Maps (available exclusively for Android OS) feel lethargic and the browser isn’t very zippy.

— priya ganapati, WIRED, "Review: HTC Droid Eris", 12 Nov. 2009

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lethargic'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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, he or she was given a drink of water from the river Lethe to forget all about his or her 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 derive from lethe, Greek for forgetfulness.