Torpor

//ˈtɔːpə(ɹ)// noun

noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A state of being inactive or stuporous. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    inactivity resulting from lethargy and lack of vigor or energy wordnet
  3. 3
    A state of apathy or lethargy. countable, uncountable

    "She knew that she was the cause of her husband's utter ruin; and she strung herself to bear the consequences. The reproaches which agony extorted; or worse, cureless, uncomplaining depression, when his mind was sunk in a torpor, not the less painful because it was silent and moveless."

  4. 4
    a state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility wordnet
  5. 5
    A state similar to hibernation characterised by energy-conserving, very deep sleep. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
languorlethargylistlessnesssluggishnesstorpiditytorpidity

Example

More examples

"Everything seemed dulled by Sunday's torpor and the dolefulness of the summer days."

Etymology

From Latin torpor (“numbness”), from torpeō (“I am numb”).

Related phrases

daily torpor

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.