What does "lethargy" mean?
A state of extreme torpor, sopor or apathy, especially with lack of emotion, energy or enthusiasm; (loosely) sluggishness, laziness.
Lethargy
/ˈlɛθ.ə(ɹ).d͡ʒi/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A state of extreme torpor, sopor or apathy, especially with lack of emotion, energy or enthusiasm; (loosely) sluggishness, laziness.
- Grammar: lethargy is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: sluggishness, absent energy, abstraction, abulia.
- Useful contrasts: active energy, available energies, bright energy.
- Usage evidence: As I have mentioned somewhere in these incoherent memoirs, the outbursts of passionate energy when he performed the remarkable feats with which his name is associated were followed by reactions of lethargy during which he would lie about with his violin and his books, hardly moving save from the sofa to the table.
How to use "lethargy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lethargy" 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 "lethargy" 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
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "lethargy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "lethargy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "lethargy" 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 "sluggishness" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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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 A state of extreme torpor, sopor or apathy, especially with lack of emotion, energy or enthusiasm; (loosely) sluggishness, laziness. countable, uncountable
"Europe lay then under a deep lethargy."
- 2 inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy wordnet
- 3 A condition characterized by extreme fatigue or drowsiness, deep unresponsiveness, or prolonged sleep patterns. countable, uncountable
"This Apoplexie is (as I take it) a kind of Lethargie, a sleeping of the blood, a horson Tingling."
- 4 weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy wordnet
- 5 a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness) wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
active energyavailable energiesbright energycomplete energy
Example
"As I have mentioned somewhere in these incoherent memoirs, the outbursts of passionate energy when he performed the remarkable feats with which his name is associated were followed by reactions of lethargy during which he would lie about with his violin and his books, hardly moving save from the sofa to the table."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "lethargy"?
Common synonyms include: sluggishness, absent energy, abstraction, abulia, acedia, alienation.
How do you use "lethargy" in a sentence?
As I have mentioned somewhere in these incoherent memoirs, the outbursts of passionate energy when he performed the remarkable feats with which his name is associated were followed by reactions of lethargy during which he would lie about with his violin and his books, hardly moving save from the sofa to the table.
How do you pronounce "lethargy"?
Pronounced /ˈlɛθ.ə(ɹ).d͡ʒi/.
Etymology
From Middle English litargie, from Medieval Latin litargia, from Late Latin lēthārgia, borrowed from Ancient Greek ληθᾱργῐ́ᾱ (lēthārgĭ́ā, “drowsiness”), from λήθᾱργος (lḗthārgos, “forgetful, lethargic”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, adjectival suffix).