HEBETUDE Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

hebetude

noun

ˈhe-bə-ˌtüd

Definition of hebetude

as in boredom

physical or mental inertness faced with a class forever enveloped in a miasma of apathy and intellectual hebetude, the professor had little hope of kindling an interest in medieval European history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of hebetude The leaden weight of an irremediable idleness descended upon General Feraud, who having no resources within himself sank into a state of awe-inspiring hebetude. — Ruth Walker, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Sep. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hebetude

Noun

The company granted Hayes free food for life at any location, though familiarity, to misquote an old adage, breeds boredom.

— Tom Roland, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026
Then came a quieter reaction—people shifting in their seats, glancing at one another, going still in a way that had nothing to do with boredom.

— Julian De Freitas, Harvard Business Review, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of boredom

Noun

Phrasemaking is perhaps no contribution to the intellectual heritage of the race, but phrasemakers do snap us out of lethargy, and frequently out of ingrowing pessimism, which may be worse than frenzy.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Be aware of and report any coyotes exhibiting behavior indicative of rabies, such as staggering, seizures and extreme lethargy.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of lethargy

Noun

The Rams’ decision to arrive in Melbourne the day before the game appeared to leave them in a stupor.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Patients may experience a very high fever, headaches, neck pain, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness and other serious symptoms.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of stupor

Browse Nearby Words

heavyweights

hebetude

heck

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hebetude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hebetude. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hebetude

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fungible

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes