sluggish

slug·gish | \ ˈslə-gish

How to pronounce sluggish (audio)

\

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

Keep scrolling for more

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 Clemson looked sluggish to start the season off its most recent national championship. — Christopher Smith, al, "Week 14 SEC football betting preview," 30 Nov. 2019 North Little Rock started the game sluggish and still managed to get into the end zone on an 80-yard opening drive. — Chip Souza, Arkansas Online, "PHOTOS: North Little Rock pounds Bentonville," 30 Nov. 2019 That’s why the last three recessions have bred sluggish recoveries. — Washington Post, "How a central banker’s low-rate shift showed the way for Fed," 29 Nov. 2019 That was the largest one-month decline since 2009 at the end of the recession and the start of a sluggish recovery. — Stephen Singer, courant.com, "Christmas shoppers start earlier as ‘Holiday Creep’ moves through malls, stores and online," 29 Nov. 2019 Both teams should be expected to come out a little sluggish with the early week-day start throwing them out of routine. — Esten Mclaren, USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, "New York Rangers at Boston Bruins odds, picks and best bets," 28 Nov. 2019 Her hair grew into leaves, her arms into branches, and her feet that were lately so swift, were held by sluggish roots, while her face became the treetop. — Esteban Berché, National Geographic, "Did Ovid's erotic poetry lead to his exile from Rome?," 26 Nov. 2019 Doerer connected from 47, 29 and 45 yards to give sluggish Notre Dame a 16-7 halftime lead. — Mike Berardino, Indianapolis Star, "Notre Dame football blasts Boston College on senior day," 23 Nov. 2019 Opposing teams have taken advantage of Maryland’s sluggish starts offensively by grabbing early leads in each of the first five games. — Don Markus, baltimoresun.com, "3 takeaways from No. 6 Maryland’s 86-63 win over George Mason," 23 Nov. 2019

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about sluggish

Dictionary Entries near sluggish

slugging percentage

Statistics for sluggish

Last Updated

3 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Sluggish.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish. Accessed 15 December 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

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

\

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

\

Medical Definition of sluggish

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

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

delectation

delight or enjoyment

Test Your Vocabulary

Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz

Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.