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
But where Apex’s movement is fast-paced and its ever-dwindling map size forces players together over time to ratchet up tension, Marathon feels slow and mundane by comparison. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025 Survivors are grappling with slow and inadequate insurance payouts, uninhabitable dwellings, and upended lives. Francine Kiefer, Christian Science Monitor, 2 May 2025
Verb
And that’s slowing us down for two and a half hours. Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 7 May 2025 But if the uncertainty delays hiring, slows the economy and pushes up the unemployment rate, the Fed could quickly shift toward interest rate cuts. Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 7 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
  • While the children rode off quickly to make it to school before the morning bell, retirees like Robyn Jensen lingered for a leisurely morning.
    Deena Prichep, NPR, 2 May 2025
  • Think aperol spritzes, seasonal fare, and leisurely days at the beach.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 1 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
  • Carbon monoxide can also cause the victim to become sleepy, lose consciousness, or lose muscle function as the dangerous gas stops oxygen flow to the brain, heart, and other important cells and organs.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2025
  • This sleepy port town, penned in by snowy mountains on one side and endless freezing sea on the other, could have been where Spurs’ European dream died.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • No more boring, irrelevant training modules—this is learning at the speed of work.
    Lisa Bodell, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Some of this may happen under cover of darkness, but much of it happens in the open, under cover of arcane technocracy or boring bureaucracy.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Bailey had five drunken driving convictions between 1985 and 2015. 40 mph without braking Friends and family of the victims filled the courtroom at Wednesday’s hearing.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 May 2025
  • Visibility was fine, braking was instantaneous and the feel of the wheel was sharp but not overly so.
    Josh Max, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • Some experts warn that the shift could have long-term economic impacts for the U.S., especially if travelers have a positive experience in another destination and return there instead of to the U.S. Others believe that travel to the U.S. will slowly recover over time.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Corsicana, Texas is slowly building buzz in the art world.
    Rima Suqi, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In one sense, this isn’t an entirely stupid proposition.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
  • Vel rails against the offender, saying her lover was the kind of warrior the Ghor rebels are trying to be and that her loss is both incalculable and stupid.
    Noel Murray, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The two argued, the cellmate said, and when Williams woke up in the morning, Yarborough was dead.
    Gina Barton, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Soon dead bodies start piling up and fingers start getting pointed in all directions, most often landing on Jason as the killer.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

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