Synonym Chooser

How does the noun torpor contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of torpor are languor, lassitude, lethargy, and stupor. While all these words mean "physical or mental inertness," 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

In what contexts can languor take the place of torpor?

The words languor and torpor are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, languor suggests inertia induced by an enervating climate or illness or love.

languor induced by a tropical vacation

When can lassitude be used instead of torpor?

While in some cases nearly identical to torpor, lassitude stresses listlessness or indifference resulting from fatigue or poor health.

a depression marked by lassitude

When would lethargy be a good substitute for torpor?

In some situations, the words lethargy and torpor 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 stupor a more appropriate choice than torpor?

While the synonyms stupor and torpor are close in meaning, stupor implies a deadening of the mind and senses by shock, narcotics, or intoxicants.

lapsed into an alcoholic stupor

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of torpor This gestures to its deep meaning as a symbol of wisdom, of one’s awakening into knowledge from the torpor of ignorance. Archana Venkatesan, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024 Not too long ago, however, there were films — some good, some bad — that believed that conversational torpor as a byproduct of incomplete identity formation and the awkwardness of incipient or dying romance deserved the big-screen treatment. Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024 The United States is slowly coming around to providing some of the right capabilities, but not in the necessary quantities and not before U.S. torpor degraded Ukraine’s ability to hold and reclaim territory in southern Ukraine and the Donbas. Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Aug. 2022 Many even argued that Tokyo could use the moment to emerge from its torpor and keep the world's then second-largest economy from becoming a global has-been. Takashi Yokota, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2011 See all Example Sentences for torpor 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torpor
Noun
  • The broadcast's disregard for the McCafferys and their positions in favor of connecting them to Clark drew mixed reactions on social media.
    Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • An emphasis on short-term financial gains, a separation between leadership and employees, and a disregard of fundamental values like safety and innovation help to explain Boeing's demise.
    Jim Osman, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Avoiding boredom of sitting in the same spot day after day. Cons of Mobile Hunting the Rut As with all hunting strategies, mobile hunting during the rut does have some drawbacks as well.
    Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Reasons include limited opportunities for growth, lack of work-life balance, poor communication, lack of recognition, or simply boredom.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Their families alleged either excessive force or deliberate indifference to life-threatening medical conditions for people in pretrial detention.
    Sarah Metz, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
  • None of the men were found guilty of the counts of deprivation of rights under color of the law for excessive force and for failure to intervene or deliberate indifference, but Haley was convicted of the lesser counts for each, which involved bodily injury.
    Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include vomiting, lethargy and seizures, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
    Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
  • The side effects of the contaminants might reveal themselves in the body as mineral depletion, heavy metal overload or lethargy (chronic fatigue, leaky gut, hyperactivity, dissociation, anhedonia).
    Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Neither team fully snapped out of this shooting stupor, finishing a combined 7-for-37 in the fourth quarter.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 2024
  • The media narrative has long painted Noel as the pragmatic, occasionally sober musician, dutifully writing the songs and leading the band while Liam peacocked in a drunken stupor as the stereotypical rock star.
    Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Torpor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torpor. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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