Skip to main content
doldrums

doldrums

8.5
A calm area near the equator where winds are light and ships can stop moving
  • noun
  • /ˈdoʊldrəmz/
translation icon : zona de calma
  • The crew spent days in the doldrums, trapped in calm waters with no signs of wind.

And if you happen to be a sailing ship that wanders into the doldrums, wow.

Examples

  • Geez Louise, John... looks like you sailed right out of that Doldrums Sea you were floundering around in.

    Blog text (19)
  • Sailboats often stall in the doldrums, unable to move due to the absence of wind.

  • Traveling through the doldrums can be frustrating for sailors seeking a steady breeze.

Synonyms

doldrum
vsdoldrums
2 9.2

A calm part of the ocean near the equator where winds are often very light

is the plural form referring to the same calm equatorial region

Antonyms

1.0

A violent weather event with heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning

tempest
  • Literature
11 8.8

A very strong storm with winds that can damage things

How Windy

storm
1.0
gale
24 5.8
breeze
201 1.0
lull
28 4.6
calm
52 1.0
doldrums
8.5

Surface Forms

doldrum singular
doldrums plural

Etymology

Doldrums comes from an old word dold meaning 'dull' or 'slow', and sailors used it for the windless belt near the equator where ships could not move; so doldrums names that calm, stuck sea area.