limp 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of limpnext
1
as in floppy
not stiff in structure his broken arm was limp as he held it against his side

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2
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness the limp runners just dropped to the ground after crossing the finish line

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3
as in listless
lacking bodily energy or motivation the team's limp performance has many calling for the head coach's resignation

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limp

2 of 2

verb

ˈlimp How to pronounce limp (audio)
1
as in to shuffle
to walk while favoring one leg she limped all day after stubbing her toe on the lawn sprinkler

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2
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually the damaged boat limped back into port

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to drag
to move slowly we'll have to stop limping if we are ever going to make our destination in time

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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 limp
Adjective
That’s a compelling arc that the show did absolutely nothing with, instead trotting him out for a limp reveal before Daryl murdered him just as quickly. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2026 Instead, Iñárritu shoves in a limp subplot about a missing daughter to humanize him. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
Then came Week 2, when Brooks took his final snap in the second half and limped to the locker room, towel over his head, and proceeded to watch the rest of the game on the sidelines. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026 Doyle, who limped through a medical career before turning to a life of crime fiction at the age of twenty-seven, had studied under Bell in the late 1870s, marveling at the doctor’s careful reasoning and indefatigable intuition. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for limp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limp
  1. floppy
  2. tired
  3. listless
  4. shuffle
  5. stumble
  6. drag
  7. exhausted
  8. weak
Adjective
  • There’s a real zing to the sauce au poivre, which is mahogany-dark and sticky with demi-glace, and a cozy depth to the paccheri, floppy cylinders of pasta in a cream sauce with kale and sausage.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • There is of course another way to hear ABBA songs sung live onstage, though sadly without Greek island backdrops or background singers wearing floppy swim fins.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of floppy
Adjective
  • Even more popular when, instead of a tired old video tribute — hats off to the Jackets for reading the room on this one — the arena cameras went straight to Marchenko during the next stoppage.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • With his team facing fourth-and-3, his deficit at 21-7 early in the third quarter and his offense teetering between flat and listless, Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski stood on the sideline, eyed his players and clapped his hands.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Chargers, meantime, opened with three losses for the first time since 2017, and feature a listless, sputtering offense that lacks finish under first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of listless
Verb
  • It’s been more than a year since Ozzy Osbourne shuffled off this mortal coil.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Current traded away some assets while shuffling stars like Michelle Cooper, Temwa Chawinga and Lorena in and out of the lineup.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • There was upset after upset, and a few teams were on the verge of stumbling as well.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Next week will bring major risks for a stock market that's trying to find its footing as the AI trade continues to stumble, with several megacap earnings, a Federal Reserve meeting and a key inflation report in store.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Season 2 picks up from where things left off, with Michael and Diana having barely arrived in Spain when they are dragged back into the fold to answer questions around Ricardo’s death.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s spokesman denied Britain was being dragged in to the conflict.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of drag
Adjective
  • The buck, tongue lolling, looked exhausted from chasing and breeding his doe.
    — Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026
  • If a year in, the founder is still in every meeting and the new hire is the most exhausted person in the building, the company did not hire an operator.
    — Ken Paskins, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • The age-old advice of keeping your passwords secure and being wary of suspicious emails is more important than ever as hackers gain more sophisticated tools and use AI to find more of the internet’s weak points.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Analysts expect profits and assets to cover the dividend through weaker timber periods.
    — Sebastien Chasse, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of weak

Browse Nearby Words

limousines
limp
limped
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Cite this Entry

“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limp. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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