slow 1 of 3

1
2
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily we love our bulldog though he's a little slower than our German shepherd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the first half of the movie is slow, but then it gets exciting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slow

2 of 3

verb

slow

3 of 3

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slow distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slow are delay, detain, retard, and slacken. While all these words mean "to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress," slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention.

medication slowed the patient's heart rate

In what contexts can delay take the place of slow?

In some situations, the words delay and slow are roughly equivalent. However, delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

When would detain be a good substitute for slow?

The meanings of detain and slow largely overlap; however, detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

Where would retard be a reasonable alternative to slow?

While in some cases nearly identical to slow, retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

language barriers retarded their progress

When can slacken be used instead of slow?

The synonyms slacken and slow are sometimes interchangeable, but slacken suggests an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of slow
Adjective
Their main complaints were that CPAs were slow to respond and weren’t proactive or strategic enough. Robert Frank, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025 The Heat started slow, missing 14 of its first 15 shots to find itself in an early 12-point hole. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
This past weekend, the FAA reported staffing shortages at dozens of facilities, prompting the agency to slow air traffic to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who did show up to work. Joel Rose, NPR, 11 Nov. 2025 As intended, the new rule slowed average player speeds, which led to a lower concussion rate – down 43% from 2021-2023. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Two days before kickoff, Bo Nix smiled at a reporter’s question about Denver’s propensity to start slow and find its footing in the fourth quarter. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025 After some decent pressure, a loose puck slow slid out to the top of the right circle. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow
Adjective
  • Fortunately, there's usually plenty of pleasant autumn days after the first frost to tackle the remaining fall gardening tasks at a more leisurely rate.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
  • During November, coastal towns transform into quieter versions of themselves, offering a season for birdwatching, leisurely walks, or festivals with good music and food.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • As Legally Blonde's Elle Woods, Witherspoon charted a memorable path from dumb blonde to Harvard Law School graduate.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Celebrities fight it out to be eliminated from the competition as quickly as possible to avoid being crowned the nation’s dumbest.
    Peter White, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Signs to treat fevers include being unusually sleepy, cranky and refusing food and drinks.
    Erika Edwards, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Trancoso, Bahia The opening of Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa in 2009 transformed the sleepy fishing village of Trancoso into a boho-chic hot spot.
    Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite looking like a fighter pilot who could win a game of dogfight football, Colin isn’t framed as a temptation for Marissa, and a lack of sexy secrets proves to be a recurring blind spot for the series, even if those two have plenty of other skeletons in their massive, boring closets.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
  • All this after Fern just wanted to renovate her boring bookseller life by starting over next to her orc pal Viv’s coffee shop!
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Rounding out the mechanical upgrades is a revised braking system, which should come in handy on particularly treacherous routes.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The loss of rear vehicle lighting can reduce the vehicle visibility and fail to alert other drivers on the road if the vehicle is braking, turning or reversing which can increase the risk of a crash.
    Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
  • The wreckage is slowly being subsumed by the reef in the shallow blue waters of the tropical lagoon, but its story is far from over.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Catts, with no other option, turned the parade onto 17th Street and slowly wound it back to the American Royal building, leaving the spectators in downtown wondering where the parade had gone.
    Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • What gave me the crazy idea to stand at the bar, listening to that woman being praised for her stupid f---ing commitment to New York City and her ugly f---ing buildings?
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Her mechanism for luring victims involves a stick, someone’s hair, her blood, and another person stupid enough to let her through their front door.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The cemetery of good but dead laws is infinite; the main thing is that social forces exist.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • These ghosts, which take the form of their dead friends, are mostly just goofy, with the shoddy special effects and glowy auras giving the whole thing a distinctly Haunted Mansion vibe; critically, the threat never feels real, which undermines any tension.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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