: 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
Initially intriguing, the jumbled chronology eventually proves to be largely decorative until a disappointing late-reel twist explains why the labored device was deployed in the first place.
—
Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
His breathing had become labored.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
During one frightening allergic reaction, her child’s body erupts in hives and her breathing becomes labored, sending the family rushing to emergency care.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
By avoiding the labored meta-commentary of the last two sequels, Scream 7 actually feels more like a Scream movie.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for labored
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Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
His breathing had become labored.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
During one frightening allergic reaction, her child’s body erupts in hives and her breathing becomes labored, sending the family rushing to emergency care.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
By avoiding the labored meta-commentary of the last two sequels, Scream 7 actually feels more like a Scream movie.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Feb. 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 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
labored
adjective
la·bored
ˈlā-bərd 
: produced or performed with difficulty or strain
labored breathing
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