Limp — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈlimp/

Meaning & Definition of Limp

Limp (verb)

  1. to walk with an uneven and usually slow movement or gait; especially, to walk favoring one leg
  2. to go unsteadily, falter
  3. to proceed slowly or with difficulty

Limp (noun)

  1. an uneven movement or gait, a favoring of one leg while walking

Limp (adjective)

  1. lacking firm texture, substance, or structure
  2. not stiff or rigid
  3. weary, exhausted

Limp (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not stiff in structure

    "his broken arm was limp as he held it against his side"

    similar: droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, yielding
    related: flabby, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy, delicate, flimsy, insubstantial, elastic, flexible, lax, loose, pliant, relaxed, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple
    opposite: inflexible, resilient, rigid, stiff, sturdy, tense
    near: firm, hard, indurated, solid, sound, strong, brittle, crisp, compact, dense, substantial

  2. depleted in strength, energy, or freshness

    "the limp runners just dropped to the ground after crossing the finish line"

    similar: all in, aweary (archaic), beat, beaten, bleary, burned-out, bushed, dead, done, drained, exhausted, fatigued, jaded, knackered (British), logy, played out, pooped (slang), prostrate, spent, tapped out, tired, tuckered (out), washed-out, wearied, weary, wiped out, worn, worn-out, worn to a frazzle
    related: overfatigued, overtaxed, overworked, broken-down, run-down, debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, sapped, weakened, drowsy, heavy, sleepy, lethargic, sluggish
    opposite: unwearied
    near: fresh, refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized, active, energetic, invigorated, peppy, strengthened, strong, tireless, vitalized, weariless

  3. lacking bodily energy or motivation

    "the team's limp performance has many calling for the head coach's resignation"

    similar: enervated, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, listless, spiritless
    related: indolent, lazy, slothful, dull, lethargic, logy, sleepy, sluggish, torpid, exhausted, knackered (British), tired, weary, feeble, frail, weak, apathetic, impassive, indifferent, phlegmatic, stolid, careless, heedless, thoughtless, unwary, inactive, inert
    opposite: ambitious, animated, energetic, enterprising, motivated
    near: active, dynamic, industrious, kinetic, avid, eager, enthusiastic, keen, lively, pumped, vivacious, cheerful, chipper, perky, up, agog, alert, awake, dapper, open-eyed, sleepless, vigilant, watchful, wide-awake

Limp (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to walk while favoring one leg

    "she limped all day after stubbing her toe on the lawn sprinkler"

    similar: halt, hobble
    related: hitch, blunder, falter, flounder, lurch, shamble, shuffle, stagger, stumble, teeter, totter, waver, wobble, dodder
    opposite: stride
    near: breeze, glide, sail

  2. to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

    "the damaged boat limped back into port"

    similar: blunder, bumble, flog (British), flounder, lumber, plod, struggle, stumble, trudge
    related: jog, shamble, shuffle, wallow, welter, falter, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, fumble, muddle
    near: coast, fly, glide, kilt, sail, zip, zoom

  3. to move slowly

    "we'll have to stop limping if we are ever going to make our destination in time"

    similar: crawl, creak (along), creep, drag, inch, nose, ooze, plod, poke, slouch, snail
    related: lumber, shamble, shuffle, tramp, trudge
    opposite: fly, race, speed, whiz, zip
    near: float, glide, sail, hurry, tear

Related Entry: Limp-wristed (adjective)

Limp-wristed is a different word from Limp. The synonyms below are for limp-wristed, not for limp.

  1. lacking strength of will or character

    "maintained that the nation's foreign policy should not be in the hands of limp-wristed bleeding hearts with no military experience"

    similar: characterless, effete, frail, invertebrate, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, nerveless, soft, spineless, weak, weak-kneed, weakened, weakling, wet (British), wimpish, wimpy, wishy-washy
    related: flabby, flaccid, forceless, ineffective, ineffectual, impotent, impuissant, powerless, emasculated, unnerved, lamblike, meek, pliable, submissive, corrupt, dastardly, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainous, cowardly, craven, fainthearted, lily-livered, nebbishy, poltroon, pusillanimous, sissy, timid, infirm, irresolute, vacillating
    opposite: backboned, firm, hard, strong, tough
    near: ethical, good, moral, principled, right, righteous, upright, virtuous, determined, mettlesome, resolute, unrelenting, courageous, stalwart, stouthearted

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Limp

The most common words with a similar meaning to Limp:

British: knackered, flog
Archaic: aweary
Slang: pooped
droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, yielding, all in, beat, beaten, bleary, burned-out, bushed, dead, done, drained, exhausted, fatigued, jaded, logy, played out, prostrate, spent, tapped out, tired, tuckered (out), washed-out, wearied, weary, wiped out, worn, worn-out, enervated, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, listless, spiritless, worn to a frazzle, halt, hobble

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Limp

Words with the opposite meaning of Limp:

inflexible, resilient, rigid, stiff, sturdy, tense, unwearied, ambitious, animated, energetic, enterprising, motivated, stride, fly, race, speed, whiz, zip

Related Words for Limp

flabby, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy, delicate, flimsy, insubstantial, elastic, flexible, lax, loose, pliant, relaxed, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple, overfatigued, overtaxed, overworked, broken-down, run-down, debilitated, enervate, enfeebled, sapped, weakened, drowsy

Near Antonyms of Limp

firm, hard, indurated, solid, sound, strong, brittle, crisp, compact, dense, substantial, fresh, refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized, active, invigorated, peppy, strengthened, tireless, vitalized, weariless, dynamic, industrious, kinetic, avid, eager, enthusiastic

Word Forms of Limp

Inflections: limped, limping, limps

Derived words: limper (noun), limply (adverb), limpness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Limp

probably from Middle English lympen to fall short; akin to Old English limpan to happen, lemphealt lame

First known use: circa 1570

Words & Phrases Containing Limp

limp-wristed

Frequently Asked Questions about Limp

What does "Limp" mean?

"Limp" means to walk with an uneven and usually slow movement or gait; especially, to walk favoring one leg. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to walk with an uneven and usually slow movement or gait; especially, to walk favoring one leg. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Limp"?

Other words for "Limp" include droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, yielding, all in, aweary and beat. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Limp" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Limp"?

There are 134 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Limp". Common alternatives include droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, yielding, all in, aweary, beat, beaten and bleary.

What is the opposite of "Limp"?

Antonyms of "Limp" include inflexible, resilient, rigid, stiff, sturdy, tense, unwearied and ambitious. Near antonyms include firm, hard, indurated and solid.

How do you use "Limp" in a sentence?

Examples of "Limp" in a sentence: "his broken arm was limp as he held it against his side"; "the limp runners just dropped to the ground after crossing the finish line"; "the team's limp performance has many calling for the head coach's resignation".

Is "Limp" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Limp" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Limp"?

"Limp" is pronounced /ˈlimp/.

What is the origin of the word "Limp"?

"Limp" comes from probably from Middle English lympen to fall short; akin to Old English limpan to happen, lemphealt lame. First known use: circa 1570.