doldrums
Meanings
Noun
- a state of inactivity (in business or art etc)
- a belt of calms and light winds between the northern and southern trade winds of the Atlantic and Pacific
- Usually preceded by the: a state of apathy or lack of interest; a situation where one feels boredom, ennui, or tedium; a state of listlessness or malaise.
- Usually preceded by the: the state of a sailing ship when it is impeded by calms or light, baffling winds, and is unable to make progress.
- Usually preceded by the: a part of the ocean near the equator where calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds are common.
- plural of doldrum (“slothful or stupid person”)
Origin / Etymology
From obsolete doldrum (“slothful or stupid person”) plus the plural suffix -s. Doldrum is possibly derived from dull or Middle English dold (past participle of dullen, dollen (“to make or become blunt or dull; to make or become dull-witted or stupid; to make or become inactive”), from dul, dol, dolle (“not sharp, blunt, dull; not quick-witted, stupid; lethargic, sluggish”); see further at dull), modelled after tantrum.
Synonyms
calms, dumps, intertropical convergence zone, stagnancy, stagnation
Scrabble Score: 12
doldrums is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL worddoldrums is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
doldrums is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary