leaden
Gray and sluggish
Leaden describes things that are heavy, dull, or sluggish, like the metal lead.
A leaden sky is gray and oppressive, suggesting rain or gloom.
Leaden limbs feel heavy and difficult to move, often from exhaustion or illness.
The word extends to abstract heaviness: a leaden atmosphere at a funeral, leaden prose that plods along without energy.
Something leaden in color has the dull gray of the metal itself.
Of great mass
- weightyHeavy or significant
- ponderousAwkwardly heavy or slow
- massiveExtremely large and heavy
- denseClosely packed together
solid · burdensome · cumbersome · oppressive · crushing · laden · plodding · lumbering
Neutral achromatic hue
- pewterTin-based tableware alloy
- gunmetalBluish-gray bronze alloy
- slateFissile metamorphic rock
- ashenPale, grayish-white
dull · pallid · livid · wan · colorless · charcoal · steely · drab
Lacking in speed
- ploddingMoving slowly, heavily
- draggingPulling with effort
- torpidInactive and slow
- languidWeak and without vigor
listless · lethargic · heavy-footed · labored · unresponsive · dull · wooden · lifeless
Sky fully veiled
- cloudedMade unclear or dim
- grayNeutral achromatic hue
- loweringMoving something downward
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
oppressive · sunless · gloomy · dark · heavy · brooding · stormy · ominous
Unchangingly dull
- drearyDull and depressing
- dullLacking edge or interest
- uninspiredLacking creative spark
- prosaicLacking imagination or excitement
humdrum · wearisome · tiresome · plodding · unexciting · stale · flat · deadening
Subdued, lasting sadness
- despairingCompletely without hope
- somberGravely serious in mood
- gloomyDark and dispiriting
- bleakDreary and without cheer
heavy-hearted · oppressive · brooding · mournful · downcast · doleful · dispirited · forlorn
heavy
Of great mass
dense · solid · burdensome · cumbersome · oppressive · crushing · laden · plodding · lumbering · dragging
gray
Neutral achromatic hue
ashen · dull · pallid · livid · wan · colorless · charcoal · steely · drab · overcast
slow
Lacking in speed
languid · listless · lethargic · heavy-footed · labored · unresponsive · dull · wooden · lifeless · inert
overcast
Sky fully veiled
threatening · oppressive · sunless · gloomy · dark · heavy · brooding · stormy · ominous · sullen
monotonous
Unchangingly dull
- drearyDull and depressing
- dullLacking edge or interest
- uninspiredLacking creative spark
prosaic · humdrum · wearisome · tiresome · plodding · unexciting · stale · flat · deadening · mind-numbing
melancholy
Subdued, lasting sadness
- despairingCompletely without hope
- somberGravely serious in mood
- gloomyDark and dispiriting
bleak · heavy-hearted · oppressive · brooding · mournful · downcast · doleful · dispirited · forlorn · joyless
- heavy synonymsweighty, massive, hefty, ponderous, heavy
- sky conditionsclear, clear sky, cloudy, overcast, partly cloudy
- atmospheresmisty, hazy, foggy, smoky, humid
- clumsyclumsy, awkward, bumbling, bungling, fumbling
- finishespainted, polished, varnish, paint, matte silver
- sombergloomy, bleak, dreary, dismal, melancholy
leadenlight
Visible electromagnetic radiation
weightless · buoyant · airy · feathery · featherlight
- take the leadAssume foremost position
- lead singerBand's main vocalist
- lead the wayGuide others forward
- in the leadCurrently in first place
- lead onFalsely encourage someone's hopes
- go over like a lead balloonFail to impress anyone