1
a
: an awkward fellow : lout
b
: one that is unimpressive
especially
: a lazy or incompetent person
—used in negative constructions
was no slouch at cooking
2
: a gait or posture characterized by an ungainly stooping of the head and shoulders or excessive relaxation of body muscles
slouched; slouching; slouches
1
: to walk, stand, or sit with a slouch : assume a slouch
2
: droop
3
: to go or move slowly or reluctantly
: to cause to droop
slouched his shoulders
sloucher
noun
Synonyms
Examples of slouch in a Sentence
Noun
She walks with a slouch.
is no slouch when it comes to cooking
Verb
Sit up straight. Please don't slouch.
She slouched into the room.
The boy was slouching over his school books.
Recent Examples on the Web
William Gavin, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
In Bluetooth mode, the polling rate is 90 Hz, which is still no slouch for most people’s needs.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Elizabeth was no slouch at expressing her love for him either, as her 44 Sonnets from the Portuguese attest.
—Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Mar. 2024
This gorgeous ballad brims with aching fiddle and is slathered in steel guitar, while her collaborators — Country Music Hall of Fame members Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs — are no slouches, either.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2023
As impressive as the livery may be, the car beneath it is no slouch.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2024
Smooth and supple Italian leather gives a subtle slouch to the east-west silhouette.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2024
However, Bellator heavyweight champion American Ryan Bader, who is 31-7, is no slouch in the ring either with a hunger to be the best of the best in mixed martial arts.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 24 Feb. 2024
The Macan 4 isn't a slouch and can send up to 402 hp (300 kW) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) to its wheels, so launching up a highway on-ramp to 60 mph should take 4.9 seconds.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 25 Jan. 2024
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
This one employs a computer’s camera to determine whether the user is slouching or slumping.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Who hasn’t attributed the occasional pang or jab to sleeping in a weird position, slouching at a desk for eight hours, or lurching to grab something off the floor in a slightly wonky way?
—Sarah Klein, SELF, 5 Mar. 2024
Lukas sings the role with polish and power, and uses shifts in his physical bearing, from striding confidence to slouching defeat, to help tell Arnstein’s story.
—Elaine Schmidt, Journal Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024
Avoid slouching, walking with your head down, or shuffling.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
The building, constructed in 1765 as a farmhouse, began to slouch in the 19th century because of coal mining under its foundations.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Renny Antonio Parra Paredes slouched in his chair, wearing a tan prison uniform with his hands cuffed and ankles shackled, as his attorney argued for a bail application.
—Maria Paronich, Fox News, 24 Jan. 2024
Afterward, Franks slouched toward the semi-karat golden arches, joining the corporate boards of Bank of America, Chuck E. Cheese, and the like—still a man on the make.
—Matt Farwell, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Noun
Despite those heavy-hitters behind Disney, Trian is no slouch.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
In Bluetooth mode, the polling rate is 90 Hz, which is still no slouch for most people’s needs.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Elizabeth was no slouch at expressing her love for him either, as her 44 Sonnets from the Portuguese attest.
—Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Mar. 2024
This gorgeous ballad brims with aching fiddle and is slathered in steel guitar, while her collaborators — Country Music Hall of Fame members Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs — are no slouches, either.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2023
As impressive as the livery may be, the car beneath it is no slouch.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2024
Smooth and supple Italian leather gives a subtle slouch to the east-west silhouette.
—Paula Lee, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2024
However, Bellator heavyweight champion American Ryan Bader, who is 31-7, is no slouch in the ring either with a hunger to be the best of the best in mixed martial arts.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 24 Feb. 2024
The Macan 4 isn't a slouch and can send up to 402 hp (300 kW) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) to its wheels, so launching up a highway on-ramp to 60 mph should take 4.9 seconds.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 25 Jan. 2024
Verb
In the wilds of Humboldt County, Riley Keough slouches into view.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
This one employs a computer’s camera to determine whether the user is slouching or slumping.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Who hasn’t attributed the occasional pang or jab to sleeping in a weird position, slouching at a desk for eight hours, or lurching to grab something off the floor in a slightly wonky way?
—Sarah Klein, SELF, 5 Mar. 2024
Lukas sings the role with polish and power, and uses shifts in his physical bearing, from striding confidence to slouching defeat, to help tell Arnstein’s story.
—Elaine Schmidt, Journal Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024
Avoid slouching, walking with your head down, or shuffling.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
The building, constructed in 1765 as a farmhouse, began to slouch in the 19th century because of coal mining under its foundations.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Renny Antonio Parra Paredes slouched in his chair, wearing a tan prison uniform with his hands cuffed and ankles shackled, as his attorney argued for a bail application.
—Maria Paronich, Fox News, 24 Jan. 2024
Afterward, Franks slouched toward the semi-karat golden arches, joining the corporate boards of Bank of America, Chuck E. Cheese, and the like—still a man on the make.
—Matt Farwell, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slouch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun
1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1754, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing slouch
Dictionary Entries Near slouch
Cite this Entry
“Slouch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slouch. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
slouch
1 of 2 noun1
: an awkward, lazy, or unqualified person
2
: a manner of walking, sitting, or standing characterized by an awkward stooping of head and shoulders
slouch
2 of 2 verb
: to walk, sit, or stand with a slouch
sloucher
noun
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