doldrums [ dohl-druhmz, dol-, dawl- ]
noun (used with a plural verb)
1. a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art: August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises.
2. the doldrums,
a. a belt of calms and light baffling winds north of the equator between the northern and southern trade winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
b. the weather prevailing in this area.
3. a dull, listless, depressed mood; low spirits.
WORDS RELATED TO DOLDRUMS
gloom, stagnation, malaise, slump, stupor, letdown, torpor, blues, disinterest, bummer, dullness, downer, tedium, dejection, listlessness, yawn, boredom, inertia, funk, inactivity
SYNONYMS FOR DOLDRUMS
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
3. depression, gloom, melancholy, dejection.
Origin: 1795–1805; obsolete dold stupid (see dolt) + -rum(s) (plural) noun suffix (see tantrum)
EXAMPLE SENTENCES FROM THE WEB FOR DOLDRUMS
But the Republicans have the greatest opportunity to offer an alternate economic vision to the Obama doldrums.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MELODRAMA WON’T MATTER ON ELECTION DAY 2016|STUART STEVENS|SEPTEMBER 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But in these scorching summer doldrums of 2013, you have to wonder: did it have to be this disappointing?
HOPE ISN’T ENOUGH: WITHOUT CONVICTION OR DESTINATION, OBAMA FLOUNDERS|STUART STEVENS|JULY 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Here's something to chew on while I'm gone: what if the current doldrums are the new normal?
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT? HERE'S ONE MORE THING: LOW GROWTH MAY BE HERE TO STAY.|MEGAN MCARDLE|MARCH 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The campaign will now stagger through the February doldrums.
MONEY CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR MITT ROMNEY IN FLORIDA PRIMARY|PAUL BEGALA|FEBRUARY 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Now YOU come up with a sentence (or fic? or graphic?) that best illustrates the word.