torpid

UK: /ˈtɔː^rpɪd/ US: /ˈtɔrpɪd/ ,(tôr′pid)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tor•pid¹ /ˈtɔrpɪd/   adj. 

1. inactive or sluggish.
2. unwilling to move much or be active; apathetic;
   lethargic.

tor•pid•i•ty /tɔrˈpɪdɪti/  n. [uncountable]
tor•pid•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tor•pid¹  (tôr′pid), adj. 

1. inactive or sluggish.
2. slow;
   dull;
   apathetic;
   lethargic.
3. dormant, as a hibernating or estivating animal.

• Latin torpidus numb, equivalent. to torp(ēre) to be stiff or numb + -idus -id⁴
• 1605–15

tor•pid ′i•ty, tor′pid•ness, n. 
tor ′pid•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. indolent.
• 3. See inactive.

Antonyms

• 1. energetic.

tor•pid²  (tôr′pid), n. 

1. an eight-oared, clinker-built boat used for races at Oxford University during the Lenten term.

• special use of torpid¹ 1830–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

torpid / ˈtɔːpɪd/ adjective

1. apathetic, sluggish, or lethargic
2. (of a hibernating animal) dormant; having greatly reduced metabolic activity
3. unable to move or feel

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin torpidus, from torpēre to be numb, motionless

torˈpidity, ˈtorpidness noun

ˈtorpidly adverb