sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈslə-gish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sluggish real estate sector showed little sign of improvement. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 21 May 2025 But here, the scales are too often tipped into the realm of the treacly, and the entire affair feels a bit sluggish. Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 20 May 2025 Home Depot reported sluggish earnings Tuesday, weighed down by a weak housing market and consumers taking on fewer large-scale renovation projects. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 20 May 2025 Developers are contending with a sluggish selling season and mounting economic pressures. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sluggish

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sluggish

adjective
slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
: slow in movement or reaction by habit or condition
sluggishly adverb
sluggishness noun

Medical Definition

sluggish

adjective
slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
: markedly slow in movement, progression, or response
sluggish healing
sluggishly adverb
sluggishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sluggish

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