as in boredom
physical or mental inertness
faced with a class forever enveloped in a miasma of apathy and intellectual hebetude, the professor had little hope of kindling an interest in medieval European history
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Recent Examples of hebetude
The leaden weight of an irremediable idleness descended upon General Feraud, who having no resources within himself sank into a state of awe-inspiring hebetude.
—
Ruth Walker, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Sep. 2017
Ruth Walker, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hebetude
Noun
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These spectacular environments and their all-consuming nature are often a form of therapy, a response to loneliness, boredom, trauma, mental illness, or religious mania–sometimes a combination.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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However, attendees showed no sign of boredom and punctuated her approximately 30-minute oration at City Hall with applause.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Neurological Effects Very high levels of magnesium can affect the brain and nervous system, leading to symptoms like drowsiness, confusion, lethargy, and depression.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
13 June 2025
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Ricky Darryl had all the telltale signs: a dangerously high fever of 107 degrees Fahrenheit, pale gums, extreme lethargy, and near-total exhaustion.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Hours later, as the commanders slept at home in a medicated stupor, the handmaids spread out all over with the intent of killing Gilead’s leaders in their sleep.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
16 May 2025
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Drugs either didn’t work or put him in a severe stupor.—
Kayana Szymczak For The New York Times,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hebetude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hebetude. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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