torpid

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɔrpɪd/ UK /ˈtɔːpɪd/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
sluggish, inactive, or mentally dull; lacking energy

In the summer heat the whole town grew torpid by noon.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · sluggish, inactive, or... sluggish lethargic listless inactive dull languid inert apathetic

Opposites

active energetic lively vigorous alert

Word family

Derived forms torpidlytorpiditytorpidness

Related forms torpor torpedo

Etymology

From Latin torpidus ('numb, sluggish'), from torpēre ('to be stiff or numb').

torpidus Latin torpēre Latin *sterp- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# torpid

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɔrpɪd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɔːpɪd/

## Meanings
1. sluggish, inactive, or mentally dull; lacking energy

## Examples
- In the summer heat the whole town grew torpid by noon.

## Synonyms
- sluggish
- lethargic
- listless
- inactive
- dull
- languid
- inert
- apathetic

## Antonyms
- active
- energetic
- lively
- vigorous
- alert

## Derived Forms
- torpidly
- torpidity
- torpidness

## Related Forms
- torpor
- torpedo

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: torpidus
- Root: torpēre
- Root: *sterp-

## Etymology
From Latin torpidus ('numb, sluggish'), from torpēre ('to be stiff or numb').

## AI Etymology
Torpid comes from Latin torpidus ('numb, sluggish'), from torpēre ('to be stiff or numb'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "sluggish, inactive, or mentally dull; lacking energy", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin torpidus, Latin torpēre, and Proto-Indo-European *sterp-. Derivative forms include torpidly, torpidity, torpidness; related words include torpor, torpedo.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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