HEBETUDE Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

hebetude

noun

ˈhe-bə-ˌtüd

Definition of hebetude

as in boredom

physical or mental inertness faced with a class forever enveloped in a miasma of apathy and intellectual hebetude, the professor had little hope of kindling an interest in medieval European history

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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 hebetude The leaden weight of an irremediable idleness descended upon General Feraud, who having no resources within himself sank into a state of awe-inspiring hebetude. — Ruth Walker, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Sep. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hebetude

Noun

Take us to that moment, this middle-age malaise, this boredom.

— Longreads, Longreads, 18 Aug. 2026
Her boredom was sharpened by the discovery that most of her initial assumptions were wrong.

— Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of boredom

Noun

Lastly, Harford County Animal Control urges residents to notify them at 410-638-3505 if anyone observes a stray animal showing signs of excessive affection, aggression, lethargy, or disorientation.

— Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Perhaps the jump scares here also helped shake the filmmakers out of their lethargy in post-production.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of lethargy

Noun

Patients may experience a very high fever, headaches, neck pain, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness and other serious symptoms.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Fernández’s theory is that Mark must have told the women the code to his safe in his pliant stupor.

— Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of stupor

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heavyweights

hebetude

heck

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“Hebetude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hebetude. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hebetude

noun

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