leaden

[ led-n ]

/ ˈlɛd n /

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See synonyms for: leaden / leadenness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

inertly heavy like lead; hard to lift or move: a leaden weight; leaden feet.

dull, spiritless, or gloomy, as in mood or thought: leaden prose; a leaden atmosphere.

of a dull gray color: leaden skies.

oppressive; heavy: a leaden silence.

sluggish; listless: They moved at a leaden pace.

of poor quality or little value.

made or consisting of lead.

verb (used with object)

to make leaden, sluggish, dull, etc.: Fatigue had leadened his brain and step.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of leaden

before 1000; Middle English leden,Old English lēaden.See lead², -en²

OTHER WORDS FROM leaden

lead·en·ly, adverblead·en·ness, noun

Words nearby leaden

lead chromate, lead colic, lead dioxide, lead down the garden path, leaded, leaden, leader, leader block, leader board, leader cable, leader head

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use leaden in a sentence

John is an inmate in a psychiatric ward courtesy of past crimes that are only briefly mentioned and, via additional leaden conversations, it’s revealed that he still has Dream’s ruby.
Netflix’s ‘The Sandman’ Is One Terribly Boring Fantasy Series|Nick Schager|August 5, 2022|The Daily Beast
He was lying on his back, his eyes closed and with a leaden gray look on his face.
He was close by for three presidential assassinations. Including his dad’s.|Gillian Brockell|December 19, 2021|Washington Post
BOSTON — At least two members of the Washington Wizards came out of a leaden performance against the Boston Celtics in their first game of the NBA’s new play-in tournament feeling optimistic.
The Wizards remain confident, and their recent history against the Pacers should only help|Ava Wallace|May 20, 2021|Washington Post
Technically, White should seem out of step with our current pop-centric culture: leaden, irrelevant, dinosauric.
Is Jack White the Last True Rock Star?|Andrew Romano|June 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

That there was a way to tell the story and not have been leaden—not be a chore or an ordeal.
Steve Coogan Makes His Bid For Some Serious, Dramatic Roles|Andrew Romano|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Romney-Ryan Medicare proposal is stunningly unpopular—and Romney left the debate firmly lashed to its leaden weight.
Romney Won the Debate but it Was No Game Changer|Robert Shrum|October 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Soldiers called out, and they gave two unfortunates leaden food enough to kill them.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
Several tons of leaden pipe were dug up in Fleet street, London, laid down 300 years before.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The wind-blown rain-makers lost their leaden hue and became a soft pearl-gray, all fleecy white around the edges.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Thickets were swept as with a great jagged scythe by the leaden hail which swept through them.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
For the rest, the “Dolphin” is a singularly dull and unromantic-looking house, painted a leaden hue.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper

British Dictionary definitions for leaden

leaden

/ (ˈlɛdən) /

adjective

heavy and inert

laboured or sluggishleaden steps

gloomy, spiritless, or lifeless

made partly or wholly of lead

of a dull greyish coloura leaden sky

Derived forms of leaden

leadenly, adverbleadenness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

leaden

Origin of leaden

OTHER WORDS FROM leaden

Words nearby leaden

Words related to leaden

How to use leaden in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for leaden

Derived forms of leaden