LABORED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does labored mean? 

• LABORED (adjective)
  The adjective LABORED has 2 senses:

1. lacking natural ease

2. requiring or showing effort

  Familiarity information: LABORED used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LABORED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking natural ease

Synonyms:

labored; laboured; strained

Context example:

a labored style of debating

Similar:

awkward (lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Requiring or showing effort

Synonyms:

heavy; labored; laboured

Context example:

the subject made for labored reading

Similar:

effortful (requiring great physical effort)

 Context examples 

The excellent papa labored under the delusion that he was, and reveled in long discussions with the kindred spirit, till a chance remark of his more observing grandson suddenly enlightened him.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Far behind them the two galleys labored heavily, now sinking between the rollers until their yards were level with the waves, and again shooting up with a reeling, scooping motion until every spar and rope stood out hard against the sky.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But in Martin's estimation the whole tribe of bank cashiers fell a few hundred per cent, and for the rest of the evening he labored under the impression that bank cashiers and talkers of platitudes were synonymous phrases.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The girls gave their hearts into their mother's keeping, their souls into their father's, and to both parents, who lived and labored so faithfully for them, they gave a love that grew with their growth and bound them tenderly together by the sweetest tie which blesses life and outlives death.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Little Teddy bore a charmed life, for nothing ever happened to him, and Jo never felt any anxiety when he was whisked up into a tree by one lad, galloped off on the back of another, or supplied with sour russets by his indulgent papa, who labored under the Germanic delusion that babies could digest anything, from pickled cabbage to buttons, nails, and their own small shoes.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)