1
be/feel + leaden
leaden 作表语，表示“沉重、迟缓”，常与 be/feel 等连系动词连用。
His steps were leaden after the long hike.
长途徒步后，他的步伐沉重而缓慢。
呆滞的；倦怠沉重的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
呆滞的；倦怠沉重的
made heavy or weighted down with weariness; dull and sluggish
His steps were leaden after the long hike.
长途徒步后，他的步伐沉重而缓慢。
铅的；与铅有关的
Of or related to the metal lead, particularly
After the long flight, her legs felt leaden and she could barely walk to the luggage carousel.
长途飞行后，她的双腿感到沉重无力，几乎走不到行李传送带。
The workers moved with leaden steps through the hot afternoon, stopping often to rest.
工人们在炎热的下午拖着沉重的步子走动，不时停下来休息。
He tried to concentrate, but his mind was leaden and refused to form a single clear thought.
他试图集中注意力，但他的头脑昏沉呆滞，怎么也理不出一个清晰的念头。
leaden 作表语，表示“沉重、迟缓”，常与 be/feel 等连系动词连用。
His steps were leaden after the long hike.
长途徒步后，他的步伐沉重而缓慢。
此处 leaden 表示“用铅制成的”，作定语修饰名词。
The old leaden pipes were dangerous.
那些旧铅管很危险。
“too + 形容词 + to do”表示“太……而不能”。leaden 在此表示因疲倦而身体沉重无力。
She was too leaden to climb the stairs.
她沉重得爬不动楼梯。
Not this
His legs felt lead after the long run.
Use this
His legs felt leaden after the long run.
这里需要形容词而不是名词：leaden 才是表示“沉重、倦怠”的形容词，lead 是名词或动词。在 feel 后作表语描述腿的状态，必须用形容词 leaden。
Not this
His steps were leaden tiredness.
Use this
His steps were leaden with tiredness.
表示“因……而沉重”时，leaden 与介词 with 搭配，后接原因或伴随状态；不能把 tiredness 直接放在表语位置。加上 with 后，句子才表达“他的步伐因疲惫而沉重”。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
铅灰色的天空
The leaden sky made the afternoon feel dull and cold.
铅灰色的天空让下午显得阴沉而又寒冷。
沉闷的寂静
A leaden silence filled the room after she left.
她离开后，房间里一片沉闷的寂静。
沉重疲惫的双脚
After the training session, my leaden feet made every step a struggle.
训练结束后，我沉重的双脚让每一步都变得艰难。
缓慢沉重的步伐
He climbed the stairs with leaden steps, exhausted by the news.
他迈着沉重缓慢的步伐爬上楼梯，被这个消息弄得精疲力竭。
沉重疲乏的眼皮
His leaden eyelids drooped as he tried to stay awake.
他沉重的眼皮垂了下来，努力保持清醒。
铅灰色的天空
A leaden sky hung over the city all morning.
整个上午，铅灰色的天空笼罩着城市。
沉重的沉默
His question was met with a leaden silence.
他的提问换来了沉重的沉默。
沉重的四肢
After the long march, we could barely move our leaden limbs.
长途行军之后，我们几乎动弹不了沉重的四肢。
Use leaden naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记住 lead（铅，读 /led/）加 -en：铅做的，又沉又灰，动作拖沓像铅块。
语域：formal 常见场景：literary prose、poetry、formal writing leaden 多用于书面语或文学描写，日常口语中不太常见。表示“铅制的”时较正式；表示“沉重的、沉闷的”时多用于形容天气、气氛或动作。
Only one listed word rhymes with leaden /ˈlɛdən/: deaden /ˈdɛdən/. The others are look-alikes ending in -den but with different stressed vowels: wooden /ˈwʊdən/, sudden /ˈsʌdən/, hidden /ˈhɪdən/, maiden /ˈmeɪdən/, garden /ˈɡɑːrdən/ (note the r sound).
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.