doldrums

Meaning

1. (plural, plural-only) 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.
2. (plural, plural-only) 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.
3. (broadly, plural, plural-only) Usually preceded by the: a part of the ocean near the equator where calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds are common.

Synonyms

stagnancy

stagnation

depressed

dumps

equatorial doldrums

oppression

sluggishness

stalemate

standstill

stagnant conditions

depression

equatorial calms

deadlock

equatorial calm belt

dejected

Translations

ristagno

pot au noir

Flaute

keder

bezginlik

Innertropische Konvergenzzone

kasvet

Lustlosigkeit

Trübsal

☹️

Trübsinn

Kalmengürtel

trübselige Stimmung

Flautenstimmung

στασιμότητα

marasme

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdɒldɹəmz/

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.