limp 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of limpnext
1
as in floppy
not stiff in structure his broken arm was limp as he held it against his side

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2
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness the limp runners just dropped to the ground after crossing the finish line

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3
as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation the team's limp performance has many calling for the head coach's resignation

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limp

2 of 2

verb

ˈlimp How to pronounce limp (audio)
1
as in to shuffle
to walk while favoring one leg she limped all day after stubbing her toe on the lawn sprinkler

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2
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually the damaged boat limped back into port

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to drag
to move slowly we'll have to stop limping if we are ever going to make our destination in time

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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 limp
Adjective
Hull testified that Robinson later returned in different clothing, walking with a limp, rolled onto the roof of a building on campus and crawled to the edge of the rooftop around the time the shot was fired. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 July 2026 Rats, cockroaches and weasels run amok, tearing through limp tent sheets and biting children and newborn babies in their sleep. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Verb
The hits keep coming for France as key defender William Saliba limped off the pitch in the 31st minute. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026 McGregor, who left the arena without speaking to reporters, was later seen walking barefoot and shirtless on the concrete outside the arena, limping toward a parking lot. — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 12 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for limp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limp
  1. floppy
  2. tired
  3. listless
  4. shuffle
  5. stumble
  6. drag
  7. exhausted
  8. weak
Adjective
  • The wings need intermediate stiffness (not too rigid, not too floppy), the tail must sit short and close to the body, and the exit angle has to land near 70 degrees.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
  • Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, a floppy neck and trouble swallowing, the CDC says.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Definition of floppy
Adjective
  • The brand is winning over tired consumers who already reach for something sweet before bed by combining the comfort of a late-night treat with ingredients designed to support a better sleep routine.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
  • Some get the number of dollars tied to their age (this used to be the case for Ollie and his brother, Owen, until their mom, Rebecca, got tired of them fighting over their disparate payouts) and others much more.
    — Erika Janes, Curbed, 17 July 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • The Current looked listless early — and Byars made the host team pay.
    — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • Sanders hadn’t been around his team for three months last offseason and lacked the energy or spark that had enabled him to transform listless programs at Jackson State and CU into winners.
    — Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of listless
Verb
  • He’s been shuffled on and off the practice squad here over the years.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 July 2026
  • Burke piles fascinating shuffling sounds on top, invoking a quiet scuffle, maybe some cardboard boxes being knocked over in a storage space.
    — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • The huge animals knocked bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the two-and-a-half-minute run from the pen to the bull ring where bullfighters will kill the bulls later in the day.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • The huge animals knocked down bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the 2½-minute run from the pen to the bullring where bullfighters would kill the bulls later in the day.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • The untethered AUVs hover above the seabed instead of dragging equipment across it, reducing sediment disturbance and limiting ecosystem disruption.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • Overall, the plan is on par with a request the White House submitted to Congress last month, as the Iran war drags past four months.
    — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of drag
Adjective
  • Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • Great Magnificent Mile location for exploring the city, and a cosseting base to retreat to when exhausted.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • But despite growing international demand for Chinese goods, domestic consumption remains a critical weak spot in the nation’s economic development.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • The stock plunged 25% for its worst day on record after issuing weak preliminary results for the second quarter.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of weak

Browse Nearby Words

limousines
limp
limped
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Cite this Entry

“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limp. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on limp

Nglish: Translation of limp for Spanish Speakers

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