labored
Translation
laboured, strained, forced
Examples
His breathing was slow and labored.
His breathing was slow and laboured.
The joke was a bit labored.
The joke was a bit laboured.
Grammar Patterns
a laboured ((noun)) He took a laboured breath.
((sth.)) is laboured His writing style is laboured.
Similar Words
Synonyms: strained, forced, difficult; Antonyms: easy, natural, effortless
Etymology
From the verb 'to labour' (to work hard) + '-ed'. It describes something that seems to have required a lot of hard work, making it sound unnatural.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone 'labouring' (working very hard) to breathe or tell a joke. The result is 'laboured'.