: produced or performed with labor
labored breathing
also
: lacking ease of expression
a labored speech
Examples of labored in a Sentence
The patient's symptoms included a rapid pulse and labored breathing.
The movie's dialogue seems very labored.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mayo Clinic Press notes that anxiety triggers labored breathing, muscle tightening and activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the body’s fight-or-flight wiring.
—
Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Mayo Clinic Press confirms that anxiety produces real physical responses, including labored breathing, muscle tightening and activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
Mayo Clinic Press notes that anxiety’s physiological response includes labored breath, muscle tightening and activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Every labored breath and painful cough is a reminder that their parents did everything right and relied on the immunity of those around them.
—Sarah Marsicek, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for labored
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Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Mayo Clinic Press confirms that anxiety produces real physical responses, including labored breathing, muscle tightening and activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
Mayo Clinic Press notes that anxiety’s physiological response includes labored breath, muscle tightening and activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Every labored breath and painful cough is a reminder that their parents did everything right and relied on the immunity of those around them.
—Sarah Marsicek, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for labored
Cite this Entry
“Labored.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labored. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
labored
adjective
la·bored
ˈlā-bərd 
: produced or performed with difficulty or strain
labored breathing
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