Lethargy vs. Torpor — What's the Difference?

Lethargy is a state of tiredness, weariness, fatigue, or lack of energy. It can be accompanied by depression, decreased motivation, or apathy.

Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Torpor enables animals to survive periods of reduced food availability.

A lack of energy or vigor; sluggishness.

A state of mental or physical inactivity or insensibility.

A lack of interest or enthusiasm; apathy

Lethargy; apathy.

(Medicine) An abnormal state of drowsiness, as caused by disease or drugs.

The dormant, inactive state of a hibernating or estivating animal.

A state of extreme torpor or apathy, especially with lack of emotion, energy or enthusiasm; (loosely) sluggishness, laziness.

A state of being inactive or stuporous.

(pathology) A condition characterized by extreme fatigue or drowsiness, deep unresponsiveness, or prolonged sleep patterns.

A state of apathy or lethargy.

Morbid drowsiness; continued or profound sleep, from which a person can scarcely be awaked.

(biology) A state similar to hibernation characterised by energy-conserving, very deep sleep.

A state of inaction or indifference.

Loss of motion, or of the motion; a state of inactivity with partial or total insensibility; numbness.

To lethargize.

Dullness; sluggishness; inactivity; as, a torpor of the mental faculties.

A state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)

A state of motor and mental inactivity with a partial suspension of sensibility;

Weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy

Inactivity resulting from torpidity and lack of vigor or energy

Inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy