lethargic
gb/lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk/ us/lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk/
B2
English
bágyadt, szokatlanul álmos, lanyha, vontatott, letargikus, nehezen ébreszthető
B2
1
bágyadt
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels/lelooks/is lethargic
I’ve been lethargic all week, even after a full night’s sleep.
Egész héten bágyadt voltam, még egy teljes éjszakai alvás után is.
The hot, humid weather made everyone lethargic and quiet.
A forró, párás időtől mindenki bágyadt és csendes lett.
After the long flight, she felt too lethargic to go out for dinner.
Learner examples
Today I feel lethargic.
Ma bágyadtnak érzem magam.
He was lethargic after work.
Munka után bágyadt volt.
Common mistake:
Do not use it to mean only 'lazy' or 'not wanting to work'; it often suggests a physical or mental lack of energy (often temporary).
Meaning
tired and lacking energy
Collocations
feel lethargic
|look lethargic
|be lethargic
|a lethargic afternoon
|lethargic after lunch
|lethargic from the heat
|lethargic all day
|lethargic and unfocused
|lethargic mood
|lethargic movements
Synonyms
sluggish (Emphasizes slow movement or response.)
|
listless (Emphasizes lack of interest or enthusiasm.)
|
drained (Emphasizes having used up energy.)
Antonyms
energetic (Full of energy and activity.)
|
alert (Quick to notice and respond.)
|
lively (Full of life and enthusiasm.)
Themes
health
|daily_life
|emotions
Definition
Very tired and slow, with little energy.
Feeling very tired and lacking energy, so that you move, think, or react slowly.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is lethargic after [medication/illness]
The nurse noted that the child was lethargic and wanted to sleep all the time.
A nővér észrevette, hogy a gyerek szokatlanul álmos volt, és állandóan aludni akart.
If you become unusually lethargic after taking this medicine, call your doctor.
Ha a gyógyszer bevétele után szokatlanul álmos leszel, hívd fel az orvosodat.
He was lethargic and dizzy because he hadn’t eaten all day.
Learner examples
The medicine made her lethargic.
A gyógyszertől szokatlanul álmos lett.
He felt lethargic when he was sick.
Betegen szokatlanul álmosnak érezte magát.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it for normal sleepiness; it usually suggests an unusual or concerning level of drowsiness.
Meaning
unusually sleepy or drowsy
Collocations
lethargic patient
|unusually lethargic
|suddenly lethargic
|lethargic after medication
|lethargic with the flu
|lethargic and drowsy
|lethargic and weak
|become lethargic
|seems lethargic
|increasingly lethargic
Synonyms
drowsy (More general; can be mild and normal.)
|
sleepy (Everyday word; often less serious.)
|
groggy (Often used after waking up or anesthesia.)
Antonyms
wide-awake (Fully awake and not sleepy.)
|
alert (Awake and responsive.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
Sleepy and not fully awake, often because you are sick or taking medicine.
Unusually sleepy or drowsy, especially because of illness, medication, or low blood sugar.
C1
BUSINESS
3
Usage pattern:
a lethargic [economy/market/recovery/sector]
Consumer spending stayed lethargic despite lower interest rates.
A fogyasztói költekezés az alacsonyabb kamatok ellenére is lanyha maradt.
After a lethargic first quarter, the company increased hiring.
Egy lanyha első negyedév után a cég több embert vett fel.
Trading was lethargic ahead of the holiday weekend.
Learner examples
Sales were lethargic this month.
Az eladások ebben a hónapban lanyhák voltak.
The market is lethargic today.
A piac ma lanyha.
Common mistake:
In this sense it describes low activity or slow progress, not physical tiredness.
Meaning
slow and lacking activity
Collocations
lethargic economy
|lethargic market
|lethargic growth
|lethargic recovery
|lethargic demand
|lethargic sales
|lethargic performance
|lethargic start
|lethargic pace
|lethargic response
Synonyms
sluggish (Very common for slow economic or business activity.)
|
stagnant (Emphasizes little or no change over time.)
|
lackluster (Emphasizes unimpressive performance rather than speed.)
Antonyms
buoyant (Strong and active, especially in markets.)
|
robust (Strong and healthy growth or performance.)
|
brisk (Quick and active pace.)
Themes
business
|economics
|work
Definition
Slow and not active (for example, about business or the economy).
Slow-moving and showing little activity or progress (often used about an economy, market, or organization).
C2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] is lethargic and difficult to rouse
In the emergency room, he was lethargic and slow to respond to questions.
A sürgősségin letargikus volt, és lassan válaszolt a kérdésekre.
The doctor asked whether the baby was feeding poorly or becoming lethargic.
Az orvos megkérdezte, hogy a baba rosszul eszik-e, vagy kezd-e letargikussá válni.
She was lethargic but could be roused with repeated stimulation.
Meaning
hard to rouse; minimally responsive
Collocations
lethargic and difficult to rouse
|lethargic mental status
|acutely lethargic
|markedly lethargic
|lethargic on exam
|lethargic presentation
|lethargic and confused
|lethargic but arousable
Synonyms
unresponsive (Stronger; may suggest no response at all.)
|
obtunded (More technical medical term for reduced alertness.)
Antonyms
responsive (Able to answer and react normally.)
|
fully conscious (Not impaired in awareness.)
Themes
medicine
|health
Definition
Not responding normally and hard to wake up.
In a medical context, showing reduced responsiveness and being difficult to rouse or engage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lethargic
IPA
GB/lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk/
US/lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk/
Syllables & stress
leth - ar - gic (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ar)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lethargic
Word family
Core family
lethargy
noun C1
lethargically
adverb C1
Expressions
a lethargic economy
1/ə lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk ɪkˈɑnəmi/
fixed phrase
business
economy with low activity
An economy that is slow and not very active.
Examples
- High borrowing costs can contribute to a lethargic economy.
- The report described a lethargic economy with weak hiring.
- Small businesses struggled during the lethargic economy.
Learner examples
- A lethargic economy affects jobs.
a lethargic pace
1/ə lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk pˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
very slow speed
A very slow speed.
Examples
- Work continued at a lethargic pace during the heatwave.
- The meeting dragged on at a lethargic pace.
- Construction has moved forward at a lethargic pace for months.
Learner examples
- The project is moving at a lethargic pace.
a lethargic response
1/ə lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk ɹɪspˈɑns/
fixed phrase
slow or weak reaction
A slow or weak reaction.
Examples
- Customers complained about the company’s lethargic response to refunds.
- The team showed a lethargic response to the new strategy.
- Officials faced criticism for their lethargic response to the early warnings.
Learner examples
- They gave a lethargic response to my email.
feel lethargic
1/fˈil lɪθˈɑɹd͡ʒɪk/
fixed phrase
experience very low energy
To feel very tired and slow.
Examples
- I always feel lethargic after a big lunch.
- She started to feel lethargic as the day got hotter.
- If you feel lethargic for days, consider talking to a doctor.
Learner examples
- I feel lethargic today.
- He feels lethargic in the heat.