leaden

American  

[led-n] / ˈlɛd n /

adjective

1. inertly heavy like lead; hard to lift or move.

   a leaden weight; leaden feet.

2. dull, spiritless, or gloomy, as in mood or thought.

   leaden prose; a leaden atmosphere.

3. of a dull gray color.

   leaden skies.

4. oppressive; heavy.

   a leaden silence.

5. sluggish; listless.

   They moved at a leaden pace.

6. of poor quality or little value.

7. made or consisting of lead.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make leaden, sluggish, dull, etc..

   Fatigue had leadened his brain and step.

leaden British  

/ ˈlɛdən /

adjective

1. heavy and inert

2. laboured or sluggish

   leaden steps

3. gloomy, spiritless, or lifeless

4. made partly or wholly of lead

5. of a dull greyish colour

   a leaden sky

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Other Word Forms

• leadenly adverb
• leadenness noun

Etymology

Origin of leaden

before 1000; Middle English leden, Old English lēaden. See lead ², -en ²

Example Sentences

Perhaps an exhibition could explore Jewish artists wrestling with their traditions, but here these objects land like leaden agitprop.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their intended audience includes national security bureaucrats in the U.S. and abroad and the think-tankers and journalists obliged by a sense of professional responsibility to at least scan these generally leaden, cliché-ridden products of groupthink.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bruce Springsteen, “Streets of Philadelphia Sessions” From the Boss’ “Tracks II” trove of lost albums, a more vivid depiction of Bummed-Out Bruce than director Scott Cooper’s leaden “Deliver Me From Nowhere.”

From Los Angeles Times

But her touch is so heavy that it becomes leaden, almost crushing.

From Salon

The game began with the floodlights on, leaden skies overhead and the expectation that rain was inevitable, so it was something of a surprise when Sri Lanka opted to bat first.

From BBC

Related Words

• ponderous
• weighty