scle·rot·ic
sklə-ˈrä-tik 
1
a
medical
: of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis (see sclerosis sense 1)
sclerotic arteries
sclerotic bone lesions
b
: grown rigid or unresponsive especially with age : unable or reluctant to adapt or compromise
a sclerotic system/bureaucracy
the country's sclerotic economy
The upheaval in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and elsewhere is driven by popular revulsion with sclerotic, corrupt leadership.—
Rachel Bronson
Rachel Bronson2
anatomy
: being or relating to the sclera
the sclerotic coat of the eye
Examples of sclerotic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Even without the assistance of Asian democracies, Europe has a major economic and technological advantage over Moscow, which is a sclerotic and overrated power.
—Phillips P. O’Brien, Foreign Affairs, 12 Sep. 2025
Our depressing slide into sclerotic autocracy continues.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Despite their narrow loss to Trump in the 2024 election, the Democrats, with their sclerotic leadership, appear to have little clue about how to regain voters’ favor.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sclerotic
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Adjective
Institutions that once functioned for the benefit of the public are now sclerotic, having been partly dismantled, or seem indifferent to suffering.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Even without the assistance of Asian democracies, Europe has a major economic and technological advantage over Moscow, which is a sclerotic and overrated power.
—Phillips P. O’Brien, Foreign Affairs, 12 Sep. 2025
Our depressing slide into sclerotic autocracy continues.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Despite their narrow loss to Trump in the 2024 election, the Democrats, with their sclerotic leadership, appear to have little clue about how to regain voters’ favor.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sclerotic
Cite this Entry
“Sclerotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sclerotic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sclerotic
1 of 2 adjective
scle·rot·ic
sklə-ˈrät-ik
1
: being or relating to the sclera
2
: of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis
sclerotic
2 of 2 noun
: sclera
Medical Definition
sclerotic
1 of 2 adjective
scle·rot·ic
sklə-ˈrät-ik
sclerotic
2 of 2 noun
: sclera
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