sluggish

adjective

ˈslə-gish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
Definition of sluggishnext
1
as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sleepy
slow to move or act reptiles are naturally sluggish at low temperatures

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sluggish Cramer said one notable exception to his framework for investing during rotations is Meta, which jumped Wednesday after a sluggish start to the year. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 1 July 2026 Merz’s coalition of center-right and center-left parties took office just over a year ago with pledges to reform and turn around Germany’s sluggish economy, Europe’s biggest. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 Many competitors often report feeling sluggish, sleepy, or uncomfortable afterward. — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026 The job market, which appeared sluggish as the new year began, has exceeded expectations in recent months, even as inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. — Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
  1. slow
  2. sleepy
  3. leisurely
  4. dull
  5. lagging
  6. lethargic
Adjective
  • There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • Unlike much of the group stage, Sunday’s game was a sloppy, sleepy affair, with South Africa relying on some heroic play from its back line to keep the game even.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • The phone achieved download speeds of 463Mbps and upload speeds of 39Mbps in 5G testing in sleepy suburban areas.
    — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • Mondays have $5 martinis, mules and margaritas, Fridays and Saturdays are for boogying upstairs and the patio at Metro is an any-day spot for a leisurely drink or three.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 30 June 2026
  • That was when the lensman captured the social set at their leisurely and often strikingly dressed best.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 26 June 2026
Definition of leisurely
Adjective
  • But all work and no play can make for a dull chief scientific officer.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 July 2026
  • The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
    — Owen Lamont, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • The lagging percentage of women film directors last year is a clear sign that the industry is going backward, said Kirsten Schaffer, chief executive of WIF, which advocates for women in Hollywood.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
  • The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Definition of lagging
Adjective
  • Signs of heat stroke in dogs include heavy panting and drooling, being weak or lethargic, bright red gums and bloodshot eyes.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • When to Contact a Wildlife Rehabilitator Always contact a wildlife rehabilitator if the turtle appears injured, such as having a cracked shell, or seems lethargic or sick.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Definition of lethargic

Browse Nearby Words

slugging (down)
sluggish
sluggishly
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Cite this Entry

“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sluggish for Spanish Speakers

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