doldrums
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doldrums
- /ˈdɒldɹəmz/ UK
- /ˈdɑldɹəmz/ US
Where it comes from
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.
noun
-
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.
I was in the doldrums yesterday and just didn’t feel inspired.
Similar: dumps
- 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. [F]rom the bluff-head, where I watched to-day, / I saw her in the doldrums; for the wind / Was light and baffling.
-
Usually preceded by the: a part of the ocean near the equator where calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds are common.
Mr. Ralph Abercromby has made special observations on the upper wind currents over the equator in the Atlantic Ocean. [...] With respect to the general circulation of the atmosphere we know that the surface trades either die out at the doldrums or unite into one moderate east current; that the low a
Similar: calms, intertropical convergence zone
noun
- plural of doldrum (“slothful or stupid person”)
Translations
Every language
noun state of apathy or lack of interest
| Português | esmorecimento, modorra |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Trübsal, trübselige Stimmung, Trübsinn, Lustlosigkeit, Flautenstimmung, Flaute |
| Italiano | depressione, tristezza |
noun state of a sailing ship when it is impeded by calms or light, baffling winds
| Deutsch | Flaute |
|---|---|
| Italiano | bonaccia |
noun part of the ocean near the equator
| Français | Pot-au-Noir |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Kalmengürtel, Innertropische Konvergenzzone, Kalmen |
| עברית | אֵזוֹר הַשֶּׁקֶט הַמַּשְׁוָנִי ezor hasheket hamashvani |
Talk about this word "doldrums." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/doldrums. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. doldrums. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/doldrums "doldrums." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/doldrums.Cite this
@misc{doldrums_2026,
title = {doldrums},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/doldrums},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
