Word: lethargic (adjective)

Associations

The word "lethargic" describes a state of being very tired, slow, or lacking energy and enthusiasm.

• When you feel lethargic, you might want to rest or sleep because you feel weak or sleepy.
• Example 1: After staying up all night, I felt lethargic and couldn't focus on my work. (Here, it means very tired and slow.)
• Example 2: The hot weather made everyone lethargic during the afternoon. (Shows lack of energy caused by heat.)
• Example 3: He was lethargic due to illness and stayed in bed all day. (Means weak and inactive because of sickness.)

Synonym: "sluggish" is similar, but "lethargic" often suggests deeper tiredness or lack of motivation, while "sluggish" can mean slow-moving or slow-acting without always implying tiredness.

Substitution

You can replace "lethargic" with:

• tired (more general and common)
• sluggish (focus on slow movement or reaction)
• drowsy (more about sleepiness)
• exhausted (stronger, means very tired)

Each substitution changes the meaning slightly. For example, "drowsy" means sleepy, but "lethargic" can mean tired and slow in many ways, not just sleepy.

Deconstruction

The word "lethargic" comes from the Greek word "lēthargos," where "lēthē" means forgetfulness and "argos" means inactive or idle. So originally, it meant being forgetful or inactive. The suffix "-ic" is used to form adjectives.

Inquiry

• When do you feel lethargic in your daily life? Is it after exercise, illness, or something else?
• How would you describe someone who is lethargic? What would their behavior look like?
• Can you think of a time when being lethargic was good or bad for you? Why?