Leaden (Adjective)

Meaning ¹

Lacking lightness or liveliness; "heavy humor"; "a leaden conversation".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The actor's performance was disappointing, weighing down the entire movie with his leaden attempts at humor.
• After the devastating loss, the mood of the party had turned decidedly leaden.
• His storytelling, normally effervescent, fell flat that day and hung over us like a leaden shroud.
• Lack of audience laughter created an atmosphere heavy with awkward tension as leaden pauses littered his entire routine.
• This monotony feels oppressively leaden, reducing once-carefree afternoons to numbing duties with no end in sight.

Synonyms

• Heavy

Meaning ²

Darkened with overcast; "a dark day"; "a dull sky"; "the sky was leaden and thick".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Synonyms

• Dull

Meaning ³

Made heavy or weighted down with weariness; "his leaden arms"; "weighted eyelids".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• Her leaden legs felt like they were stuck in the mud as she trudged through the muddy field.
• The leaden weight of his responsibilities was crushing him, making it hard to get out of bed in the morning.
• After a long night of studying, her eyelids felt leaden, threatening to shut at any moment.
• The air was thick with humidity, making his leaden movements feel like he was wading through quicksand.
• The athlete's leaden muscles ached with fatigue after the grueling marathon.

Synonyms

• Weighted

Meaning ⁴

Made of lead; "a leaden weight".

Classification

Relational adjectives (pertainyms).

Examples

• The old clock's leaden weights hung silently from the pendulum.
• The leaden bullets were carefully crafted to ensure maximum accuracy.
• The artist's leaden sculptures were highly prized for their intricate details.
• The leaden pipes beneath the city streets had been in place for centuries.
• The diver's leaden boots made every step feel like a struggle.

Related Words

• Lead (noun)

Meaning ⁵

(of movement) slow and laborious; "leaden steps".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The hikers' leaden footsteps echoed through the dense forest as they trudged uphill.
• Her legs felt like lead, making every step a leaden struggle to get to the finish line.
• The old man's leaden gait was a stark contrast to the spry steps of his grandkids.
• After running 20 miles, her leaden legs made every movement feel like a chore.
• The climber's leaden movements made him worry that he wouldn't make it to the summit before nightfall.

Synonyms

• Plodding