Meaning & use

doldrums

noun·Advanced

A state of inactivity, low spirits, or stagnation, often used to describe a dull or unproductive period.

See it in a sentence

After the holidays ended, the whole office seemed stuck in the doldrums.

Sailors once feared the doldrums, a windless ocean region where ships could drift for days.

A note on using this word

Doldrums is almost always used in the plural, even for a single mood or period, as in the economy is in the doldrums.

Words with a similar meaning

slumpgloom

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

excitement

Make it your own

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