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
Abrams expects applications will continue to be approved but at a slower pace than before the application pause. Adriana Morga, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025 What started as a five-horse race became four when Concrete Glory was slow to get going out of the No. 5 starting gate and didn’t finish. Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
Verb
Working together to find solutions Backing many of these efforts to slow deforestation is the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force, which California’s then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger helped launch in 2008. Mary Nichols, The Conversation, 19 May 2025 The best part of Ponderosa was finally getting a chance to slow down. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Adverb
At this high altitude, oxygen was already receding, making every movement slower and more difficult. Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025 Start slow: Implementing changes too quickly can overwhelm your body. Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow
Adjective
  • Properties aren’t rented solely for leisurely vacations, but also for private events and filming movies, commercials, TV series, music videos, and more.
    Emma Reynolds, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Then, take a leisurely stroll through Stavanger’s Old Town, soaking in the atmosphere of times past.
    Atlas Ocean Voyages, AFAR Media, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.
    Daniel Jackson, Allure, 18 July 2017
  • Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.
    Andy Benoit, The MMQB, 10 July 2017
Adjective
  • When Tommy leaves to bring his sleepy son home, Maria revisits her and Joel’s conversation about refugees.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 18 May 2025
  • Photos of my kid's birthday parties are no longer me with bleary, sleepy drinking eyes.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Belief that your institution is exempt from the hard, functional and often boring parts of the job leads to a slow decline.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • As a small-market team, for the majority of my life, Indiana has been looked at as boring or whatever the case may be.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • The analysis found that Simpson tried to brake and steer to the right, but her vehicle struck the rear of the tractor-trailer, state police wrote.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 May 2025
  • The control system is able to brake the rotors by running the motors backwards as generators, and the resulting torque is enough to effect a change in blade pitch.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 May 2025
Adverb
  • As their success grew, so did their hospitality offering—slowly, and then all at once.
    Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Over the next century or so, the apocalypse slowly spread and consumed once powerful Maya cities such as Tikal, in northern Guatemala, and Calakmul, in the southern part of the Yucatán Peninsula.
    Lizzie Wade, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Not just on the training pitch but in the dorm rooms, talking about the future and giggling at stupid jokes.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • President Donald Trump said only stupid people would refuse a $400 million gift.
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Three of the party members — ages 36, 47 and 63 — were pronounced dead at the site, authorities said.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 13 May 2025
  • First responders pulled Boutwell out of the car and realized another person was dead under the vehicle, according to the sheriff, who added that the person who shot Boutwell is responsible for Jones’ death as well.
    Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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