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Definition of labored

labored

/ˈleɪ.bɚd/
(UK: laboured)
la · bored
Adverb:laboredly
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labored Lexical Profile

labored Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

American Done with great effort and difficulty, especially concerning physical movement or breathing.

Example

"The patient's breathing became noticeably labored after climbing the short flight of stairs."

2

American Lacking naturalness, spontaneity, or grace; overly contrived or forced.

Example

"The comedian's jokes felt so labored that the audience barely chuckled."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Spelled 'labored' in American English and 'laboured' in British and Commonwealth English.

• Rhymes for labored

• Nearby Words

labelmate
labor
laboratory
labored
laborer
laborious
laboriously

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as the past-participle adjective of 'labor', which derives from Old French 'laborer' and Latin 'laborare' (to toil, exert oneself, or suffer).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Labored. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/labored
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