torpor

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noun tor·por \ ˈtȯr-pər \

Definition of torpor

1 a :a state of mental and motor inactivity with partial or total insensibility

b :a state of lowered physiological activity typically characterized by reduced metabolism, heart rate, respiration, and body temperature that occurs in varying degrees especially in hibernating and estivating animals

2 :apathy, dullness

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torpor was our Word of the Day on 08/27/2011. Hear the podcast!

Examples of torpor in a Sentence

The news aroused him from his torpor.
after a lifetime of setbacks, defeats, and failures, he could only greet the latest bad news with a resigned fatalism and dull torpor

Recent Examples of torpor from the Web

For a change, with a front approaching the atmosphere should show some signs of breaking out of the typical summer torpor that leads to upper-air doldrums.

— anthony r. wood, Philly.com, "How an atmospheric traffic jam inundated Burlco," 4 Aug. 2017
A few supremely well-staged set-pieces relieve the torpor, none more so than an exactingly composed introductory sequence that plunges the viewer into the rituals of an official banquet held in Zweig's honor by the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.

— guy lodge, chicagotribune.com, "'Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe' review: Biopic celebrates Austrian author," 20 July 2017
Then as now, rumblings broke out at a time of equity torpor, with the VIX dipping below 10 and markets acting immune to all kinds of risk.

— dani burger, Bloomberg.com, "Low Volatility Raises Paranoia Over Leverage in the Quant Fund World," 22 May 2017
Faster U.S. economic growth could offer a trans-Atlantic bailout to Europe’s exporters, and his tax- and regulation-cutting drive could even shake the Continent out of its policy torpor.

— WSJ, "Trump’s Economic Challenge to Europe," 26 Apr. 2017
U.S. stocks have shaken off the torpor that marked much of January.

— richard barley, WSJ, "Why Bond Market Isn’t Convinced About Surging Growth," 16 Feb. 2017
The big events of the fight against apartheid — the Sharpeville massacre, the Soweto uprising, the death of Steve Biko, Mandela’s release after 27 years in prison — arrive on cue but don’t rouse the series from its torpor.

— mike hale, New York Times, "Review: ‘Madiba,’ a Stately but Static March Through Mandela’s Life," 31 Jan. 2017
From adapting our diets to building igloos to wearing animal skins, Arctic communities have more than compensated for our inability to enter a winter-long torpor.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Can Humans Ever Harness the Power of Hibernation?," 18 Jan. 2017
The opening piece was hectic and clangorous; after that, torpor set in.

— alex ross, The New Yorker, "Daniil Trifonov’s Sleight of Hand," 9 Jan. 2017

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

Did You Know?

Our English word torpor looks the same and means the same thing as Latin torpor, from which it was borrowed into Middle English. It stems from the Latin verb torpēre, which means "to be sluggish or numb." "Torpor" first appeared in a 13th-century guide for religious recluses, where it referred to a spiritual or intellectual lethargy, but there is very little evidence of its use over next the 400 years. It began showing up again in the early 1600s in reference to both mental and physical sluggishness. The related adjective "torpid" (from the Latin adjective torpidus) entered the language in the 15th century.

Origin and Etymology of torpor

Middle English, from Latin, from torpēre

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First Known Use: 13th century

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torpor Synonyms

Synonyms

apathy, casualness, complacence, disinterestedness, disregard, incuriosity, incuriousness, insouciance, nonchalance, indifference, unconcern

Antonyms

concern, interest, regard

Near Antonyms

attention, attentiveness, awareness, conscientiousness, curiosity, heedfulness, keenness; sensitivity, warmheartedness; bias, partiality, prejudice; ardor, desire, fervency, passion, vehemence, warmth, zeal

Synonym Discussion of torpor

lethargy, languor, lassitude, stupor, torpor mean physical or mental inertness. lethargy implies such drowsiness or aversion to activity as is induced by disease, injury, or drugs.