sluggish

adjective

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

The thing looks like a pale leaf but is made of jade and is supposed to move sluggish lymph fluid and ease facial tension. — Alice Gregory, Allure, "I Got Fillers for My Chronic Undereye Circles, and the Results Were Impressive," 28 Apr. 2019 Voters are also disappointed with an economy that shrank two years in a row and remains sluggish today, with nearly 13 million workers unemployed. — Paulo Trevisani, WSJ, "With Few Jobs and Much Anger, Brazilians Go to the Polls," 25 Oct. 2018 Hiring by small businesses — defined as those with fewer than 50 employees — remained sluggish last month and depressed overall job growth. — Christopher Rugaber, Fox News, "Survey: US companies added a solid 163,000 jobs in August," 6 Sep. 2018 Friday’s jobs report showed that hiring was strong in June but that wage growth remained sluggish. — New York Times, "Moguls Rub Shoulders in Idaho, and China Releases Trade Numbers," 8 July 2018 Houston's luxury home sales remain sluggish even as oil prices are rebounding from the downturn, a new housing report shows. — Paul Takahashi, Houston Chronicle, "Luxury home sales stagnant even as oil prices rebound," 13 June 2018 Yet wage gains remain sluggish, compared with previous periods when the unemployment rate was this low. — Christopher A. Rugaber, chicagotribune.com, "Milestone for U.S. job market: More openings than unemployed," 5 June 2018 Wage growth remained sluggish in April, with hourly pay inching up at a rate of only 2.6 percent. — NBC News, "U.S. unemployment rate just fell to 3.9 percent, lowest since 2000," 4 May 2018 The Milwaukee Brewers' offense remained sluggish at home but Mr. April came through at just the right time. — Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers 2, Reds 0: Another April home run for Eric Thames provides all the offense," 17 Apr. 2018

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

Statistics for sluggish

Last Updated

7 May 2019

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Time Traveler for sluggish

The first known use of sluggish was in the 15th century

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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

adjective

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

adjective

slug·gish | \ ˈsləg-ish

\

Medical Definition of sluggish

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

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