Synonyms of stupor

stupor

noun

ˈstü-pər 

as in boredom

physical or mental inertness

shocked by news of impending layoffs, the workers shuffled through their shift in a quiet stupor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boredom
• lethargy
• torpor
• lassitude
• languor
• indifference
• fatigue
• listlessness
• malaise
• laziness
• sleepiness
• hebetude
• narcosis
• inaction
• idleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• vigor
• vitality
• vivacity
• enthusiasm
• eagerness
• enterprise
• vim
• ambition
• spiritedness
• keenness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun stupor contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stupor are languor, lassitude, lethargy, and torpor. While all these words mean "physical or mental inertness," stupor implies a deadening of the mind and senses by shock, narcotics, or intoxicants.

lapsed into an alcoholic stupor

When is languor a more appropriate choice than stupor?

The words languor and stupor can be used in similar contexts, but languor suggests inertia induced by an enervating climate or illness or love.

languor induced by a tropical vacation

When would lassitude be a good substitute for stupor?

The synonyms lassitude and stupor are sometimes interchangeable, but lassitude stresses listlessness or indifference resulting from fatigue or poor health.

a depression marked by lassitude

Where would lethargy be a reasonable alternative to stupor?

In some situations, the words lethargy and stupor are roughly equivalent. However, lethargy implies such drowsiness or aversion to activity as is induced by disease, injury, or drugs.

months of lethargy followed my accident

When is it sensible to use torpor instead of stupor?

While the synonyms torpor and stupor are close in meaning, torpor implies a state of suspended animation as of hibernating animals but may suggest merely extreme sluggishness.

a once alert mind now in a torpor

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stupor

Patrons — many just as panicked and some in a drunken stupor — ran by her. — Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026

That’s not to say there isn’t a company-wide stupor after last week’s bombshells. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026

That’s perfectly satisfying for the lizard brain, but the attentive listener may long for the occasional act two to lift Evaporator out of its honeyed electronic stupor and toss a touch of sand in the gears. — Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026

Last year, many were convinced American politics would be destabilized by videos manipulated by artificial intelligence, or lulled into a post-truth stupor by AI slop. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026