labored

adjective

la·​bored ˈlā-bərd How to pronounce labored (audio)
: produced or performed with labor
labored breathing
also : lacking ease of expression
a labored speech

Examples of labored in a Sentence

The patient's symptoms included a rapid pulse and labored breathing. The movie's dialogue seems very labored.
Recent Examples on the Web That's questionable, but like The Boys in the Band, Cruising has had a longer life outside of its original release — for proof, look no further than James Franco's labored 2013 homage, Interior. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2023 But all the effervescence and fun have been drained out of the material in this labored reincarnation, a movie musical made by people who appear to have zero understanding of movie-musical vernacular. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2024 Such twists arrive en masse in a labored climax, accompanied by more of the B&W flashbacks that have been sprinkled throughout. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 1 Jan. 2024 Only her breathing, noisy and labored, distinguished her. Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 10 Sep. 2023 But his speaking appeared labored and slightly slurred, and he was guided elsewhere within minutes. Annie Karni, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023 But the music that accompanies the labored acceleration up mountain grades is worth however many vacation days a flatlander's journey may take. Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2023 Spiral staircases at sides of the stage serve for dramatic, and sometime labored, entrances and exits. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2023 The 4-year-old fell to her side near the 3/16 pole with labored breathing and died on the track, suffering from severe weakness in her hind limbs. Caleb Wiegandt, The Courier-Journal, 20 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'labored.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of labored was in 1566

Dictionary Entries Near labored

Cite this Entry

“Labored.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labored. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

labored

adjective
la·​bored
ˈlā-bərd
: produced or done with labor
labored breathing

Medical Definition

labored

adjective
la·​bored ˈlā-bərd How to pronounce labored (audio)
: produced or performed with difficulty or strain
labored breathing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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