1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest a leaden performance of a classic American play that nearly put us to sleep

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2

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 leaden But the ubiquitous walls of video are a crutch in Cromer’s leaden production, creating a static disconnect between Clooney and the audience in moments that should feel the most urgently personal. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025 Exhausted now, his blood pressure mounting, Cassidy sits heavily, leaden, on the edge of the bed. Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025 And treading water is making my legs and arms feel leaden. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025 The subtext becomes text, and the film isn’t quite scary enough to make up for its mostly leaden message. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaden
Adjective
  • Anyone who suggests Guardiola’s title-winning Manchester City teams were boring should be forced to watch 90 minutes of Mourinho’s Chelsea versus Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool in the mid-2000s and report back.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The details might be boring, but the gathering of money—searching gem dealers, gold dealers—was a full-time job.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Audition is a slow burn, spending the better part of two hours setting up audiences for arguably one of the most graphic climaxes in horror history.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Tai chi is a form of exercise that involves slow, gentle movements and balancing poses.
    Carrie Madormo, Health, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Head to Amazon now to pick up the Athmile Wide-Leg Sweatpants while they’re marked down in black and gray.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The pop star went with dark gray pointy-toe heels boasting a lace-up silhouette that wrapped around her ankles.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • If the weather’s not quite suited for alfresco hangs, a subterranean level has an indoor pool, plus a sauna for relaxing your weary muscles.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Sandler in particular is already generating Oscars hype with his performance as Clooney’s weary, longtime manager, Ron.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The birds targeted lighter colors, such as white and silver/gray, less often.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The ultra-rare Mercedes-McLaren SLR is a timeless icon, one that almost mandates being clad a silver hue.
    Sean Evans, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Reeves delivers on all phases of his character arc, making a potentially dull and earnest character soar.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The text is excitable and wayward, while many of the photographs are dramatically dull.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • With the departure of disgraced co-creator Justin Roiland after the third season, the show has been steadily improving in quality, with a tremendous cast and some very funny done-in-one episodes that don't have the sometimes tiring cynicism of R&M.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2025
  • However, some Republicans have spoken out against her and recently reported that some administration officials are tiring of her, suggesting her influence is not unbridled.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But, God, to be able to play a Pablo Escobar who was just petty and wanted friends, there was something so stupid and so hilarious about that to me.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Keaton continued to play oddballs with a peculiar way of talking, though none were trivial or stupid.
    Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Leaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaden. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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