1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest a leaden performance of a classic American play that nearly put us to sleep

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2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leaden And treading water is making my legs and arms feel leaden. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025 The subtext becomes text, and the film isn’t quite scary enough to make up for its mostly leaden message. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 But Betancourt’s approach feels leaden with reference and citation, too often leaning on a catalog of cultural properties to advance an argument that is, at its heart, empirical. Jake Nevins, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 Humor — both black and camp — is the key here, unlike the often-leaden film which relied on special effects rather than a sharp script and knowing comic direction for its wow factor. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for leaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaden
Adjective
  • There are occasional boring stretches, along with confounding ones.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 Aug. 2025
  • At the end of the day, Stone relied on all of the wardrobe classics to turn boring old sports merch into a sartorial home run.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 31 July 2025
Adjective
  • Stock up on a few in white, black, grey, and navy—you’ll reach for them more than anything else in your closet.
    Christina Holevas, Vogue, 16 July 2025
  • Tyler Perry dons Madea's grey curls yet again — this time for a wedding in the Bahamas.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Progress toward the opening of the micro-home village has been slow following a ceremonial groundbreaking held in July 2023.
    Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2025
  • As elevated mortgage rates continue to put a damper on the housing market locally and nationally, rising inventory, slower sales and lower prices have made for more favorable conditions for potential buyers in the Austin-area housing market.
    Shonda Novak, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • Sasha stood in the middle, wearing a gray suit and tan shoes.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 25 July 2025
  • Aitchison is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound man with brown/gray hair and green eyes, police said.
    Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Many senior party and military leaders, weary after years of a punishing civil war, were reluctant to go up against the strongest force in the world.
    M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 18 July 2025
  • There’s no rest for the weary — or in this case, the Florida Panthers.
    Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 16 July 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike the original costume, the lace detailing features white and silver gemstones across the hem, with intricate designs on her hips and on the straps.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The wayward Celsius can would be a Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink, Sparking Blue Razz Edition, which has a silver top instead of the usual black top.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • The only other real difference was that the no-sugar version looked shinier and gummier, whereas the originals were a bit duller in comparison.
    Lisa DeSantis, Glamour, 29 July 2025
  • Changeable conditions usually make for exciting races, but 2025 was a bit dull.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • There are only so many new stories to be told, and audiences seem to be tiring of the monotony.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 23 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, Kennedy’s opponent, Vice President Richard Nixon, seemed to embody what voters were tiring of—the stale complacency and status quo of the 1950s.
    Time, Time, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Leaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaden. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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