doldrums

American  

[dohl-druhmz, dol-, dawl-] / ˈdoʊl drəmz, ˈdɒl-, ˈdɔl- /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art.

   August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises.

2. the doldrums,

   1. a belt of calms and light baffling winds north of the equator between the northern and southern trade winds in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

   2. the weather prevailing in this area.

3. a dull, listless, depressed mood; low spirits.

   Synonyms:

   dejection, melancholy, gloom, depression

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doldrums British  

/ ˈdɒldrəmz /

noun

1. a depressed or bored state of mind

2. a state of inactivity or stagnation

3. 1. a belt of light winds or calms along the equator

   2. the weather conditions experienced in this belt, formerly a hazard to sailing vessels

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doldrums Scientific  

/ dōl′drəmz′ /

1. A region of the globe found over the oceans near the equator in the intertropical convergence zone and having weather characterized variously by calm air, light winds, or squalls and thunderstorms. Hurricanes originate in this region.

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doldrums Idioms  

1. see in the doldrums.

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Etymology

Origin of doldrums

First recorded in 1795–1805; obsolete dold stupid ( dolt ) + -rum(s) (plural) noun suffix ( tantrum )

Example Sentences

That suggests that until the broader AI questions can be answered, or at the very least better understood, stocks will struggle can escape their current spell in the doldrums.

From Barron's

But I hope Fennell, and other hedonistic filmmakers like her, get to keep whipping blockbusters out of their doldrums.

From Los Angeles Times

IPO market was in the relative doldrums for much of Grimes’s government stint, with few sizable technology offerings on the horizon.

From The Wall Street Journal

The property market is in the doldrums, the domestic stock market can be volatile, and interest rates at banks are low.

From The Wall Street Journal

The US order -- estimated at $6.1 billion according to media reports -- is a welcome boost for Finland, where unemployment is at a record high and the economy is in the doldrums.

From Barron's

Related Words

• gloom
• malaise
• slump
• stagnation
• stupor