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lethargic
/ləˈθɑr.dʒɪk/
sluggish and lacking energy
After the long flight, she felt too lethargic to explore the city.
She was too tired and inactive to go sightseeing.
neutral
Sluggish, inactive, or lacking energy, often due to tiredness, illness, or depression.
The patient appeared lethargic and unresponsive during the examination.
The patient seemed tired and slow to react.
On hot days, even the dogs become lethargic and lie motionless.
The dogs were too tired to move.
Commonly used to describe people, animals, or systems that are slow to respond or act.
Collocations
feel lethargicto experience low energylethargic behaviorinactive or slow actionslethargic after eatingtired due to digestion
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'lethargy'
'Lethargy' is a noun meaning a state of sluggishness or lack of energy, while 'lethargic' is the adjective form. Example: 'Her lethargy prevented her from finishing the project' vs. 'She felt lethargic after the workout.'
Gold Rule
Use 'lethargic' for physical or mental sluggishness
Reserve 'lethargic' for describing low energy, tiredness, or inactivity. Do not use it to describe laziness or lack of motivation in a moral sense.
Word Origin
From Latin *lethargicus*, derived from Greek *lethargikos* (λθαργικός), meaning 'drowsy,' from *lēthargos* (λθαργός), combining *lēthē* (λθ, 'forgetfulness') and *argos* (ργός, 'inactive'). The word entered English in the 14th century via Old French *lethargique*.
Usage Notes
Often used in medical contexts to describe patients with low responsiveness, but also common in everyday speech to describe general tiredness. Avoid overusing it in formal writing unless describing a medical or psychological state.
Word Breakdown
leth-
forgetfulness (from Greek *lēthē*)
root-arg-
inactive (from Greek *argos*)
root-ic
adjective-forming suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary