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
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The idea was to show how slow and heavy-handed the federal bureaucracy had become and how sclerotic and in need of reform the federal government was during the early 1990s.
—Michael Eric Siegel, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2025
If the Palestinian Authority remains corrupt, sclerotic, and deeply unpopular, there is no credible pathway to a Palestinian state.
—Dennis Ross, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2025
Several conservative Iranian newspapers have argued that the younger Khamenei would revitalize Iran’s old and sclerotic government, in part by cleaning up corruption.
—Akbar Ganji, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sclerotic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
In our sclerotic two-party system, it’s become nearly impossible for either party to sustain a long-standing majority; and, even if Trumpists held super-majorities in both houses of Congress, this wouldn’t be enough to amend the Constitution.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The idea was to show how slow and heavy-handed the federal bureaucracy had become and how sclerotic and in need of reform the federal government was during the early 1990s.
—Michael Eric Siegel, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2025
If the Palestinian Authority remains corrupt, sclerotic, and deeply unpopular, there is no credible pathway to a Palestinian state.
—Dennis Ross, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2025
Several conservative Iranian newspapers have argued that the younger Khamenei would revitalize Iran’s old and sclerotic government, in part by cleaning up corruption.
—Akbar Ganji, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 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 28 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share