: 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
Then, more gunfire-like sounds ripped through the line once again, followed by more labored breathing from the caller as the dispatcher tried to rally more resources.
—
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Two riders from the motorcycle were injured in the roadway in the wake of the crash, with at least one rider unconscious with labored breathing, according to CHP traffic logs.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In its determination to make its point, Joni’s Jazz is a labor of love that still feels a little labored.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
The only sounds: water splashes as the canoe cut forward, and the labored breath of other paddlers.
—Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for labored
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Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Two riders from the motorcycle were injured in the roadway in the wake of the crash, with at least one rider unconscious with labored breathing, according to CHP traffic logs.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In its determination to make its point, Joni’s Jazz is a labor of love that still feels a little labored.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
The only sounds: water splashes as the canoe cut forward, and the labored breath of other paddlers.
—Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for labored
Cite this Entry
“Labored.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labored. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
labored
adjective
la·bored
ˈlā-bərd 
: produced or performed with difficulty or strain
labored breathing
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