1
as in floppy
not stiff in structure
his broken arm was limp as he held it against his side
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
the limp runners just dropped to the ground after crossing the finish line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation
the team's limp performance has many calling for the head coach's resignation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shuffle
to walk while favoring one leg
she limped all day after stubbing her toe on the lawn sprinkler
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
the damaged boat limped back into port
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 limp
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Having only been in the job a week, Tudor altered the formation slightly, shifting from Motta’s limp 4-2-3-1 system to a more dynamic 3-4-2-1.
Yildiz was paired with Teun Koopmeiners to function behind Dusan Vlahovic, another who had fallen foul of Motta but was restored under Tudor.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
Tatum stayed in the game to shoot free throws before limping back to the locker room with the team’s medical staff.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
Adjective
Rick grabs Chelsea and runs for help, holding her limp body in his arms.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Having only been in the job a week, Tudor altered the formation slightly, shifting from Motta’s limp 4-2-3-1 system to a more dynamic 3-4-2-1.
Yildiz was paired with Teun Koopmeiners to function behind Dusan Vlahovic, another who had fallen foul of Motta but was restored under Tudor.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
The remainder of the episode is dedicated to the war for the Yellowstone — the limping leviathan that will define and/or destroy every last Dutton life.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
Tatum stayed in the game to shoot free throws before limping back to the locker room with the team’s medical staff.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limp
Adjective
-
In spite of all the blood on his hands, there was an innate magnetism to the character, with his floppy hair and shy smiles.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
-
This is made worse by his needy eyes and floppy curly hair.—
Jeffrey Seller,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But people here are tired of seeing Farmington in the headlines as a town that's losing population.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
-
And there’s kids who are tired, or crying or can’t handle it.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
There are no darker days in a season than the ones that see relegation confirmed and for Southampton, listless for so much of this Premier League campaign, the moment arrived on Sunday.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
-
When intentionally chosen, the right scent can even shift your mood—lifting you out of a listless haze or helping ease a frantic pace.—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Then, around 200 million years ago, Pangaea began splitting apart, a geological breakup that formed the Atlantic Ocean, and eastern North America shuffled toward its current position on the globe.—
Alexandra Witze,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The Phillies can shuffle their rotation with the benefit of two upcoming off days.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
How did the world’s two largest economies stumble toward a trade war that neither truly seeks and which the rest of the world can’t afford?—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Apr. 2025
-
In 1857, Sam stumbled into the job that would shape his identity.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
On the flip side, Jamal Murray dragged the Clippers for 43 points.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The officers then dragged Feliz out of his car, pulling his pants down and exposing his genitals in the process.—
Lourdes Rosado,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This is why people often feel exhausted after a day filled with interruptions, even if the total workload was manageable.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
King Charles can't get involved in Prince Harry's security woes: author Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of ‘My Mother and I,’ explains why the monarch is too exhausted to deal with his younger son’s ongoing court battle.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Weak Treasury Demand Moved Rates More recently, in the wake of the administration’s chaotic trade policy rollout, Treasury security auctions did not go as expected, with weak demand pushing rates up higher than everyone expected.—
Norbert Michel,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Iran was at its weakest point since the 1980s, maybe since the Iranian revolution in 1979.—
Quinn Scanlan,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limp. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share