sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈslə-gish 

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

Synonyms

• crawling
• creeping
• dallying
• dawdling
• dilatory
• dillydallying
• dragging
• laggard
• lagging
• languid
• leisurely
• poking
• poky
• pokey
• slow
• snail-paced
• snaillike
• tardy
• unhurried

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 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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish 

: slow in movement or reaction by habit or condition

sluggishly adverb

sluggishness noun

Medical Definition

sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish 

: markedly slow in movement, progression, or response

sluggish healing

sluggishly adverb

sluggishness noun