sluggish

slug·gish | \ ˈslə-gish

How to pronounce sluggish (audio)

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Definition of sluggish

1 : averse to activity or exertion : indolent also : torpid

2 : slow to respond (as to stimulation or treatment)

3a : markedly slow in movement, flow, or growth

b : economically inactive or slow

Other Words from sluggish Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about sluggish

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Examples of sluggish in a Sentence

The game picked up after a sluggish start. the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome

Recent Examples on the Web That means that in that transition process, that’s going to be a very sluggish recovery until new business form to take the place of those old businesses. — Kavita Kumar, Star Tribune, "Kashkari calls Yellen an 'inspired' pick for Treasury, urges more economic aid from Washington now," 28 Nov. 2020 The sluggish pace of new- business creation in years after the recession officially ended contributed to a slow recovery and unusually high unemployment. — Gwynn Guilford And Charity L. Scott, WSJ, "Is It Insane to Start a Business During Coronavirus? Millions of Americans Don’t Think So.," 26 Sep. 2020 Beta has picked up its sluggish pace from 3 mph Tuesday afternoon, to 9 mph Wednesday morning and is 30 miles east-southeast of Houston, Texas, and 70 miles west-southwest of Port Arthur. — Joe Mario Pedersen, orlandosentinel.com, "Hurricane center down to 2 post-tropical storms Beta and Teddy, both still flood threats," 23 Sep. 2020 Sally’s sluggish pace stands out in an unusually active hurricane season: Hurricane Paulette, for instance, moved at a brisk 25 miles per hour across the Atlantic on Tuesday, per the New York Times. — Nora Mcgreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, "Why Did Hurricane Sally Move So Slowly? It Has to Do With Climate Change," 21 Sep. 2020 The hurricane’s sluggish pace could give it more time to drench the Mississippi Delta with rain and storm surge. — Author: Stacey Plaisance And Janet Mcconnaughey, Anchorage Daily News, "Sally’s threat: ‘Potentially historic’ floods, fierce winds," 15 Sep. 2020 While the Assembly side-eyed the sluggish pace of remote voting in the Senate, senators grumbled that the Assembly had met only once in the previous three days and wasted time on farewell tributes for departing members and staff. — Alexei Koseff, SFChronicle.com, "How California’s most pressing problems fell victim to Legislature’s infighting," 5 Sep. 2020 The nearly 1 million people who keep applying for unemployment aid each week point to a sluggish pace of improvement. — The Associated Press, NOLA.com, "Weekly unemployment claims fall to 881,000 but layoffs remain elevated amid pandemic," 3 Sep. 2020 The nearly 1 million people who keep applying for unemployment aid each week point to a sluggish pace of improvement. — Arkansas Online, "Jobless claims fall to 881,000 but layoffs remain elevated," 3 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sluggish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near sluggish

slugging percentage

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Last Updated

13 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish. Accessed 23 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for sluggish

sluggish

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of sluggish

: moving slowly or lazily

See the full definition for sluggish in the English Language Learners Dictionary

sluggish

slug·gish | \ ˈslə-gish

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Kids Definition of sluggish

: slow in movement or reaction … his sluggish brain was hardly working at all.— Dick King-Smith, Pigs Might Fly

sluggish

slug·gish | \ ˈsləg-ish

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Medical Definition of sluggish

: markedly slow in movement, progression, or response sluggish healing

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