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leaden

leaden

1 7.0
Dull and not lively, giving a sad feeling
  • adjective
  • /ˈlɛdən/
translation icon : pesado
  • There is only one hell - the leaden monotony of human existence.
  • leaden-eyed
  • rather leaden
  • leaden or dull

Examples

  • And there was potato bread, leaden and crumbly in texture.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • "Destroying yourself," Solomon said with a heavy voice and leaden heart.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "My people can cook better," the boss said slowly, with moments of leaden silence inserted between the words.

    Blog text (3)
  • While Brazil passed through these leaden years, it witnessed an economic miracle, with growth rates exceeding 12 percent.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Each of them is thickly painted in a somber tonality, as heavy and dull as the leaden atmosphere.

  • A shroud of silence hung heavily over them, and the aura it projected was leaden and deathlike.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • When readers have to slog through 10 single-spaced pages of leaden prose, they're likely to be too exhausted to argue on your behalf.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Stylistically, Wootton is sure-footed throughout, a witty counterweight to the occasionally leaden Weinberg.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The leaden sky seemed to reflect the heavy mood of the crowd.

  • Her voice was leaden with fatigue after a long day at work.

Synonyms

dark
vsleaden
377 1.0

Feeling gloomy and sad

is heavier and more oppressively weighted in emotional tone
dreary
vsleaden
44 3.8

A gloomy, boring time that makes you feel sad or tired

is more about an oppressive heaviness than general bleakness
dull
vsleaden
31 1.0

Not bright or shiny with weak colour

carries a stronger sense of oppressive mood rather than simple dullness
lackluster
vsleaden
  • US
30 6.1

Dull and showing little energy

is heavier in mood, emphasizing an oppressive emotional weight
drab
vsleaden
23 4.2

Not bright or colorful and not lively

conveys a darker, more oppressing mood than mere plainness
heavy
vsleaden
20 2.3

Moving slowly in a clumsy way

is about an oppressive, weighty mood rather than mere slowness
somber
vsleaden
  • US
4 4.2

Dark and dull in color, not bright

adds a sense of oppressive weight beyond mere muted appearance
pallid
vsleaden
2 7.4

Not interesting or lively and often boring

leans more toward a crushing, heavy mood than simple lifelessness
drear
vsleaden
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A dull, cold, and depressing place or scene

emphasizes an oppressive weight of mood rather than simple sadness
lusterless
vsleaden
  • US
1 7.2

Not shiny and showing little energy or life

focuses more on an oppressive, heavy atmosphere than lack of shine
dullish
vsleaden
3.7

Not bright in color and not very interesting

is more intense emotionally, giving a heavy, oppressive feeling
lead-colored
vsleaden
  • US
5.5

A dull grey-blue color like old metal

refers to oppressive heaviness in mood rather than to color

Antonyms

171 1.0

Full of happiness and cheer

111 1.3

Having a lot of energy and enthusiasm

1 4.1

A rise of land, water, or air to a higher level

How Dull

leaden
1 7.0
dreary
44 3.8
to dull
33 3.4

Surface Forms

leaden positive

Morphology

leaden = lead (semi-transparent) = lead + en

The sense 'dull, lacking lightness or liveliness' is an abstracted, figurative extension of 'lead-like' qualities (heavy, dull color), so the link is understandable but not purely literal.

Etymology

Leaden comes from the dull, heavy metal lead, so a leaden mood or voice feels 'dull' and without energy or lightness.