Definition

Describing something that is done with great effort and lacks natural ease or grace.

Example

His labored speech made it clear that he was struggling to find the right words.

Conversation

Have you noticed how labored his speech has become lately?

Yeah, it seems like he's struggling to express himself clearly.

I wonder if he's just stressed or if something else is going on.

Hopefully, it's nothing serious — maybe we should check in on him.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Labored → It is formed from "labor" (from Latin "laborare", meaning to work) and the suffix "-ed" (indicating a past action or state). The word "labored" means having worked hard or put in effort.

Memory Tip

Think of 'labor' as the act of working hard, and the '-ed' shows that this work has already been done. This helps you remember that 'labored' refers to something that has been worked on with effort.

Visually Confused Words