What does "doldrums" mean?
Usually preceded by the: a state of apathy or lack of interest; a situation where one feels boredom, ennui, or tedium; a state of listlessness or malaise.
Doldrums
/ˈdɒldɹəmz/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Usually preceded by the: a state of apathy or lack of interest; a situation where one feels boredom, ennui, or tedium; a state of listlessness or malaise.
- Grammar: doldrums is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: stagnation, abeyance, anticyclone, antitrades.
- Useful contrasts: energy, expansion, gales.
- Usage evidence: It will be some time before the economy will move out of the current doldrums.
How to use "doldrums"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "doldrums" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "doldrums" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "doldrums" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "stagnation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Usually preceded by the: a state of apathy or lack of interest; a situation where one feels boredom, ennui, or tedium; a state of listlessness or malaise. plural, plural-only
"I was in the doldrums yesterday and just didn’t feel inspired."
- 2 plural of doldrum (“slothful or stupid person”) form-of, obsolete, plural
- 3 a belt of calms and light winds between the northern and southern trade winds of the Atlantic and Pacific wordnet
- 4 Usually preceded by the: the state of a sailing ship when it is impeded by calms or light, baffling winds, and is unable to make progress. plural, plural-only
"[F]rom the bluff-head, where I watched to-day, / I saw her in the doldrums; for the wind / Was light and baffling."
- 5 a state of inactivity (in business or art etc.) wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Usually preceded by the: a part of the ocean near the equator where calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds are common. broadly, plural, plural-only
"Mr. Ralph Abercromby has made special observations on the upper wind currents over the equator in the Atlantic Ocean. [...] With respect to the general circulation of the atmosphere we know that the surface trades either die out at the doldrums or unite into one moderate east current; that the low and middle currents over the doldrums are very variable, but that the winds at these low and middle levels, 2,000 to 20,000 feet, come usually from the southeast over the northeast trade, and from the northeast over the southeast trade, and that the highest currents—over 20,000 feet—move from east over the doldrums, from southwest over the northeast trade, and from northwest over the southeast trade."
Example
"It will be some time before the economy will move out of the current doldrums."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "doldrums"?
Common synonyms include: stagnation, abeyance, anticyclone, antitrades, apathy, blahs.
How do you use "doldrums" in a sentence?
It will be some time before the economy will move out of the current doldrums.
How do you pronounce "doldrums"?
Pronounced /ˈdɒldɹəmz/.
Etymology
From obsolete doldrum (“slothful or stupid person”) plus the plural suffix -s. Doldrum is possibly derived from dull or Middle English dold (past participle of dullen, dollen (“to make or become blunt or dull; to make or become dull-witted or stupid; to make or become inactive”), from dul, dol, dolle (“not sharp, blunt, dull; not quick-witted, stupid; lethargic, sluggish”); see further at dull), modelled after tantrum.