20 Other Ways to Say Lethargic (With Examples)

You know that heavy feeling when you just cannot get out of bed? We all have those slow days where moving feels like a huge chore. If you want to describe this mood without using big words, there are many other ways to say lethargic that sound much more better.

20 Other Ways to Say Lethargic (With Examples)

Tired

This is the most common word people use when they have no energy left in their bodies. It fits almost any situation where you feel like you need a long nap. You might feel this way after a very long day at school or a busy shift at work. It is a simple term that everyone understands immediately. Using it makes your speech feel friendly and down to earth while clearly explaining your low energy levels to others.

I am too tired to go for a run today.
She felt tired after the long car ride home.
Are you feeling tired after staying up so late?
The tired puppy fell asleep on the kitchen floor.
He looked very tired during the morning meeting.
We were all tired after hiking up the hill.

Sleepy

When your eyes feel heavy and you keep yawning, you are definitely feeling sleepy. This word is perfect for those moments right before bed or early in the morning. It suggests that sleep is the only thing that will fix your current state. It is a soft and gentle word that sounds very natural in a conversation. You can use it to tell your friends why you are not talking much at the dinner table tonight.

The warm milk made the little baby sleepy.
I always get sleepy during long history movies.
You look sleepy so you should go to bed.
Is the rain making you feel a bit sleepy?
He gave a sleepy smile before closing his eyes.
The cat found a sleepy spot in the sun.

Lazy

Sometimes you have the physical strength to move but you simply do not want to do anything at all. This is what it means to feel lazy. It describes a mood where sitting on the couch sounds much better than doing your chores. It is a very casual way to talk about having a slow day. While it can be a bit negative, many people use it to joke about their own lack of motivation lately.

I feel too lazy to cook a meal.
It is a lazy Sunday morning for us.
Don’t be lazy and help me clean up.
The lazy cat refused to chase the toy.
He had a lazy afternoon watching sports videos.
We spent a lazy day at the beach.

Slow

When your brain and body are not moving at their normal speed, you are just being slow. This word is great because it describes the actual pace of your actions. You might walk slow or talk slow when you do not have much energy. It is an easy way to tell someone that you need more time to finish a task. It sounds very relaxed and does not put any pressure on the person listening to you.

I am moving a bit slow this morning.
The slow traffic made me late for work.
He gave a slow nod to show agreement.
She is having a slow start to her day.
The computer is being very slow today.
We took a slow walk through the park.

Drained

Imagine a battery that has zero power left inside of it. That is exactly how it feels to be drained. You have given all your energy to a project or a person, and now there is nothing left. This word is stronger than just being tired. it shows that you are completely empty. It is a very descriptive way to explain why you cannot go out to a party or finish your extra chores right now.

I felt totally drained after the big exam.
The long walk in the sun drained me.
She looked drained after the emotional phone call.
He was drained from working two jobs today.
All my energy is drained after the gym.
Running a marathon left her feeling quite drained.

Weak

If you feel like you do not have the strength to lift a spoon, you might feel weak. This word often relates to how your muscles feel when you are lacking energy. It is a very simple way to describe a physical feeling of being low on power. People often use this when they are hungry or have not had enough water. It is a direct word that helps others understand that you need some rest and recovery.

My legs feel weak after the long run.
He felt weak because he skipped his lunch.
She was too weak to carry the boxes.
The illness made him feel very weak today.
I feel a bit weak in the heat.
Hunger can make you feel weak and dizzy.

Heavy

Have you ever felt like your whole body weighs a thousand pounds? This is a great way to describe that sinking feeling in your limbs. When you are heavy, every movement takes a lot of effort. It is a very visual word that helps people imagine the struggle you are having. It is often used when you are very exhausted or perhaps feeling a bit sad. It makes your description feel very real and very relatable.

My eyelids feel heavy after the long day.
He walked with heavy steps to his room.
I have a heavy feeling in my arms.
The air felt heavy and made me sleepy.
She woke up with a very heavy head.
My legs feel heavy like lead right now.

Dull

When everything feels a bit boring and you have no spark, you might feel dull. This word describes a lack of excitement or energy in your mind. It is like a knife that is not sharp anymore. You are not moving fast and you are not thinking clearly. It is a very easy word to use when you want to say that your day is just not very interesting or active. It fits many different situations perfectly.

I feel a bit dull and bored today.
The medicine made his mind feel quite dull.
It was a dull afternoon with no sun.
She had a dull look in her eyes.
The party was a bit dull and slow.
He felt dull after sitting inside all day.

Weary

This word sounds a little more serious than just being tired. It means you have been doing something for a long time and you are ready for it to end. It is like a traveler who has walked many miles. When you are weary, you need a deep rest to feel better again. It is a beautiful word that adds a little bit of feeling to your story. It shows that your tiredness comes from a lot of hard work.

The weary travelers finally found a nice hotel.
He gave a weary sigh after the meeting.
She was weary of all the constant noise.
My weary eyes need a break from screens.
We were weary after the long wedding day.
The old dog looked weary after the walk.

Low

When you say you are feeling low, it usually means your energy or your mood is down. It is a very short and simple word that carries a lot of meaning. It tells people that you are not at your best right now. You might need some quiet time or a little bit of help to feel like yourself again. It is a very conversational way to talk about your feelings without being too dramatic or using complex terms.

I am feeling a bit low on energy.
The team was low after losing the game.
He has been low for a few days.
My phone battery and my energy are low.
She spoke in a very low, quiet voice.
We are low on motivation to clean up.

Blah

This is a very funny and casual word that people use all the time. It is perfect for when you cannot find the right word to describe your lack of energy. When you feel blah, you just feel meh. Nothing is exciting and you want to do absolutely nothing. It is a very modern and easy way to talk to your friends about your mood. It shows that you are just not feeling very active or happy today.

I just feel really blah this afternoon.
The weather is so grey and blah today.
This soup tastes a little bit blah lately.
He felt blah after the long, boring movie.
She had a blah day at the office.
I am in a blah mood right now.

Spent

When you have used up every single bit of your energy, you are spent. It is like spending all the money in your wallet until it is empty. This word is great for after a big workout or a very busy day at a theme park. It tells people that you have nothing left to give. It is a very clear way to say that you are finished for the day and you need to go to sleep.

I am completely spent after that hard workout.
The runners were spent at the finish line.
She felt spent after the long dance class.
He was spent from the stress of work.
We were all spent by the late evening.
My mind is spent after the math test.

Groggy

This word is perfect for that confused feeling you have when you first wake up from a nap. You are not fully awake yet and your body feels very slow. It is like being in a fog where you cannot think or move properly. Using this word helps people understand that you are still trying to wake up. It is a very common word that sounds very natural in a daily conversation with your family or your roommates.

I feel very groggy after my afternoon nap.
The medicine made her feel a bit groggy.
He was still groggy when the phone rang.
Coffee helps me feel less groggy in mornings.
She gave a groggy answer to the question.
I woke up feeling very groggy and cold.

Sluggish

If you feel like a snail moving across the ground, you are feeling sluggish. This word describes a very slow and heavy way of moving. It is often used when your digestion is slow or when the weather is very hot and humid. It is a very descriptive word that paints a picture of someone who is struggling to get things done. It is an easy way to explain why you are taking so long to get ready today.

The hot weather makes me feel very sluggish.
I felt sluggish after eating that big meal.
The car engine felt sluggish in the cold.
She had a sluggish start to her morning.
We were sluggish after the long plane ride.
He felt sluggish and stayed on the sofa.

Beat

This is a very short and punchy word that means you are very tired. It is like you have been in a long fight and you finally lost. When you are beat, you just want to sit down and not move for an hour. It is a very casual word that you can use with your coworkers or your family. It sounds very honest and direct. It is one of the easiest ways to say you are totally exhausted.

I am dead beat after that long hike.
He looked beat when he got home today.
Are you beat from all that heavy lifting?
She was beat after the busy holiday sale.
We were beat by the end of lunch.
I am too beat to watch a movie.

Out

When someone is so tired that they fall asleep immediately, they are out. This word describes a state where you are no longer awake or active. It is very simple and easy to use in a sentence. You can also use it to say that you are done with an activity because you have no more energy. It is a very common part of daily speech that everyone understands. It shows a complete lack of any power or focus.

He was out as soon as he sat.
I am out for the rest of the night.
She was out cold after the long trip.
The kids were out before the movie ended.
I will be out if I sit down.
He is out and snoring on the chair.

Flat

If you feel like a ball that has lost its air, you are feeling flat. This word describes a lack of energy and a lack of emotion. You are just existing without any bounce or spirit. It is a very good word for when you feel uninspired. It is easy to say and easy to understand. It tells people that you are not feeling very lively or excited about anything at the moment. It is very simple English.

His voice sounded flat because he was tired.
I feel a bit flat and low today.
The music sounded flat to my tired ears.
She felt flat after the long, boring talk.
My energy stayed flat all through the day.
He gave a flat response to the news.

Hushed

Sometimes being lethargic means you just want to be very quiet and still. This word describes a soft and low energy level. It is like a library where everyone is whispering. When you feel hushed, you do not want to make any noise or do anything loud. It is a gentle way to say that you are taking it easy. It sounds very peaceful and calm. It is a nice way to describe a very slow and quiet afternoon.

The house was hushed during the afternoon nap.
She spoke in a hushed and tired tone.
I feel hushed and relaxed by the fire.
The forest was hushed in the early morning.
He sat in a hushed corner to rest.
We spent a hushed evening reading some books.

Still

When you have no energy to move at all, you are being still. This word is the opposite of being active. It describes a person who is sitting or lying down without moving a muscle. It is a very basic word that even a small child can understand. It is a good way to say that you are resting your body completely. It shows that you are not ready to get up or start any new activities.

Please stay still while I fix your hair.
The water was very still and very calm.
He sat still for a very long time.
I just want to lie still right now.
The air was still on the hot day.
She kept still to save her little energy.

Soft

When your energy is low, your whole body and voice might feel soft. This means you are not being loud or strong. You are moving gently and slowly. It is a very kind word to use when you are feeling a bit weak or tired. It describes a mood that is not aggressive or fast. It is a very easy way to tell someone that you need a bit of space and some quiet time to recover.

She spoke with a soft and tired voice.
The bed felt soft and very inviting today.
He had a soft look on his face.
I feel soft and slow this rainy morning.
The light in the room was very soft.
We had a soft start to our weekend.

Final Thoughts

I hope this list helps you find many other ways to say lethargic in your daily life. Learning these simple words makes it much easier to tell people how you feel without sounding like a textbook. Whether you are feeling tired, sleepy, or just plain blah, you now have the perfect words to use. Try using one of these new terms the next time you are having a slow day. It is a great way to improve your English skills.