1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
a leaden performance of a classic American play that nearly put us to sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gray
of the color gray
the leaden sky made everything seem dark and depressing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 leaden
On a rainy morning the vistas are wild and windswept, both sea and sky taking on leaden hues; on a sunny afternoon, the blue waves roll towards the land in hypnotic lines, merging into the sky.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
But there was nothing overstuffed or leaden about Harth-Bedoya’s interpretation.
—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Mar. 2026
His final line was fine, especially given the blowout nature of the victory, but his legs are clearly leaden at this point.
—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Feb. 2026
There are moments where the album’s tone skews leaden, where Shaw positions us right on the edge of despair.
—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leaden
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
But there was nothing overstuffed or leaden about Harth-Bedoya’s interpretation.
—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Mar. 2026
His final line was fine, especially given the blowout nature of the victory, but his legs are clearly leaden at this point.
—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Feb. 2026
There are moments where the album’s tone skews leaden, where Shaw positions us right on the edge of despair.
—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leaden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaden
Adjective
-
Far fewer people stay responsible when the work turns boring, unclear or inconvenient, and that's precisely when ownership surfaces.
-
Monocultures can be boring, but on the flipside, a huge collection of individual species looks like a busy bowl of potpourri.
Adjective
-
The most common cat colors are orange, black, cream or gray, but cats can come in unique hues, such as chocolate or lilac.
-
In his apartment officers found black and gray clothing Fleming wore during the robberies as well as a black duffel bag, a gun belt with a holster, a large sum of cash still wrapped in bank currency bands, and multiple guns.
Adjective
-
There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
-
The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
Adjective
-
Three people were in the silver Chevrolet truck, and all managed to escape with minor cuts and scrapes, the sheriff’s office said.
-
Gomez looked on proudly while stunning in what appeared to be a one-shoulder, sparkly silver number, as seen in photos obtained by TMZ of Gomez leaving MSG.
Adjective
-
And ever since, ships full of travelers, weary from long journeys, have passed through the narrows, the winds of the Atlantic at their backs.
-
As America turns 250, the semiquincentennial feels like a dud — a far cry from 1976’s bicentennial blowout, when pop culture and communal celebrations united a weary nation.
Adjective
-
But all work and no play can make for a dull chief scientific officer.
-
The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
Adjective
-
The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
-
The chassis exhibits little flex, the buttons feel crisp and responsive, and the scroll wheel offers enough resistance to feel deliberate without becoming tiring.
Adjective
-
And no, that was NOT OutKick or FOX who wrote that stupid headline.
-
The thing about House of the Dragon is that everything really is quite stupid.
Cite this Entry
“Leaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaden. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
