sluggish

adjective slug·gish \ ˈslə-gish \

Definition of sluggish

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

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

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

b :economically inactive or slow

—

sluggishly

adverb

—

sluggishness

noun

See sluggish defined for English-language learners

See sluggish defined for kids

Examples of sluggish in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of sluggish from the Web

As The New Republic notes, there is no EPA chief in place for much of the region in Harvey’s path, an absence characteristic of the Trump team’s sluggish pace in filling key government positions seven months into the administration.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s FEMA Director Doesn’t Seem Incompetent," 25 Aug. 2017
Its success this time has been held up in the official press as proof that a push to overhaul sluggish state companies is at last gaining momentum under Xi Jinping, China’s president.

— The Economist, "Reform of China’s ailing state-owned firms is emboldening them," 20 July 2017
Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru are expanding at a sluggish rate of 2-3%.

— The Economist, "Latin America’s disappointing economic growth," 20 July 2017
Peltz cited P&G's sluggish sales and profit rebound in recent years and said the board needed another outsider's perspective.

— alexander coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Job cuts? Sale? What will P&G do to fight off hedge fund?," 18 July 2017
The U.S. and many other major economies remain stuck in sluggish growth, despite bloated central-bank balance sheets and enormous debts accumulated by national governments.

— sean rushton, National Review, "The Overvalued Dollar and the World Deflationary Malaise," 13 July 2017
The signs were there: The man who would write beautiful songs on his guitar became sluggish and angry.

— corin bellomia, Philly.com, "How I loved and lost my fiance - a heroin addict," 12 July 2017
The economy grew at just a 1.4 percent annual rate in the first three months of 2017, below even the sluggish 2 percent average pace in the eight years since the recession ended.

— christopher s. rugaber, The Seattle Times, "US employers add strong 222K jobs; jobless rate at 4.4 pct.," 7 July 2017
The poll suggests that, despite the presence of chronic wasting disease, the number of hunters this year might not be as low as the sluggish sales of hunting licenses have indicated.

— lee bergquist and bob riepenhoff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Survey says 88% plan to hunt this fall, even a 12% drop would mean 80,000 fewer hunters," 6 July 2017

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.

First Known Use of sluggish

15th century

sluggish Synonyms

SLUGGISH Defined for English Language Learners

sluggish

adjective

Definition of sluggish for English Language Learners

: moving slowly or lazily

SLUGGISH Defined for Kids

sluggish

adjective slug·gish \ ˈslə-gish \

Definition of sluggish for Students

:slow in movement or reaction

… his sluggish brain was hardly working at all.
—Dick King-Smith, Pigs Might Fly

—

sluggishly

adverb

Medical Dictionary

sluggish

adjective slug·gish \ ˈsləg-ish \

medical Definition of sluggish

:markedly slow in movement, progression, or response

sluggish healing

—

sluggishly

adverb

—

sluggishness

noun

Learn More about sluggish

See words that rhyme with sluggish Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sluggish Spanish Central: Translation of sluggish Nglish: Translation of sluggish for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sluggish for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sluggish? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

sluggish

Definition of sluggish

sluggishly

sluggishness

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of sluggish in a Sentence

Recent Examples of sluggish from the Web

First Known Use of sluggish

sluggish Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

SLUGGISH Defined for English Language Learners

sluggish

Definition of sluggish for English Language Learners

SLUGGISH Defined for Kids

sluggish

Definition of sluggish for Students

sluggishly

Medical Dictionary

sluggish

medical Definition of sluggish

sluggishly

sluggishness

Learn More about sluggish

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

I'll Have the Us(ual)

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066