1
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
a torpid sloth that refused to budge off its tree branch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling
my tongue and throat remained torpid for a time following the endoscopy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of torpid
This lowers the body temperature so much that a torpid hummingbird maintains a hypothermic threshold that nears death.
—
Janaya Wecker, Good Housekeeping, 10 Aug. 2022
Inside, though, Ingrid is in a state of torpid discontent, unhappy with her circumstances but unsure of how to change them.
—Sarah Chihaya, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022
The water was so torpid that a thick layer of dust had settled onto it, giving it a cheerless brown tinge.
—Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022
The ongoing slog has come to symbolize the dilemma multinationals face when confronting Germany’s notoriously torpid bureaucracy.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for torpid
Janaya Wecker, Good Housekeeping, 10 Aug. 2022
Inside, though, Ingrid is in a state of torpid discontent, unhappy with her circumstances but unsure of how to change them.
—Sarah Chihaya, The New York Review of Books, 25 May 2022
The water was so torpid that a thick layer of dust had settled onto it, giving it a cheerless brown tinge.
—Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022
The ongoing slog has come to symbolize the dilemma multinationals face when confronting Germany’s notoriously torpid bureaucracy.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for torpid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torpid
Adjective
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At around 270 square miles, Menorca charms travelers with its sleepy villages (like Fornells and Binibeca), history (centuries-old lighthouses and archaeological sites), local wines, and under-the-radar beaches.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
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The story of this estate began when the original owners transported two period buildings from Melbourne to a sleepy farm town along the Murray River.—
Natalie Hoberman,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But fear is a concept that floats somewhere beyond your immediate reach, like that numb hand lying naked in the snow.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
19 Feb. 2025
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In a season of record lows, there is almost a numb sensation accompanying Manchester United’s slump to 15th place in the table.—
Laurie Whitwell,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The fight was very dull and Ankalaev most held his way to the victory.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Without their alternate selves to tug at them, these characters would be dull, dull, dull.—
Katy Waldman,
The New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Its performance—powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 and 4 GB of RAM—is sluggish.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
27 Feb. 2025
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Tax season continued its sluggish start into early February, but tax refunds continued to steadily roll out the door.—
Susan Tompor,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The 55-year-old victim was asleep in her bed in her apartment on Purdy St. near Metropolitan Ave.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2025
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The officers noted minimal damage in the apartment and said that the children were asleep, per the outlet. Ariz.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The Huskies got out to a lethargic start and struggled for more than four minutes to get a shot to fall.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2025
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There is one statistic which neatly encapsulates this lethargic performance.—
Jay Harris,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This large, circulating cloud of material, including hot gases enriched in oxygen, was found to be absent from quiescent galaxies that had ceased star formation.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 Jan. 2025
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There is no guarantee that the crisis will remain quiescent for much longer.—
Richard Nephew,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torpid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torpid. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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