1
as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
reptiles are naturally sluggish at low temperatures
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sluggish
The result is harder stools, less frequent bowel movements and the bloated, sluggish feeling many patients describe in the early weeks of treatment.
—
Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Go back and look at just about any start this season and the Ferraris look like they've been shot out of a cannon while the Mercedes and others often look pretty sluggish.
—Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Mozambique said five of its citizens were killed in anti-migrant attacks across South Africa, where a sluggish economy and high unemployment are fueling rising xenophobia.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Critics contend that the government failed to deliver on key promises, particularly in healthcare and security, while economic growth remained sluggish.
—Sebastian Jimenez, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026
Go back and look at just about any start this season and the Ferraris look like they've been shot out of a cannon while the Mercedes and others often look pretty sluggish.
—Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Mozambique said five of its citizens were killed in anti-migrant attacks across South Africa, where a sluggish economy and high unemployment are fueling rising xenophobia.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Critics contend that the government failed to deliver on key promises, particularly in healthcare and security, while economic growth remained sluggish.
—Sebastian Jimenez, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Recovery of the bodies has been slow because of the chemicals and other hazards present at the site, Amos explained.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
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One of the most painful things about this disease is knowing that promising treatments are emerging, but funding barriers and manufacturing and procedural slow-downs continue to derail progress.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Spanning 160 miles from east to west, our advice is to make this a multi-stay getaway—perhaps starting in ever-popular Chania or Heraklion before road tripping to quiet coastal enclaves, sleepy historic villages, and expansive mountain valleys.—
Katie Silcox,
Vogue,
28 May 2026
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After experiencing sinister, otherworldly events in the not-so-sleepy retirement community, Sam teams up with his neighbors Art (Clarke Peters), Judy (Alfre Woodard), Renee (Geena Davis), Wally (Denis O'Hare) and Paz (Carlos Miranda).—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Jodie Foster steps out after enjoying a leisurely brunch with her wife at Café Cluny in New York City on May 27.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
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Acceleration is leisurely, however, even for this group of cars.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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But Pace says its AI agents can handle the dull work that insurers typically outsource to massive offshore human call centers.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Many things work in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’s favor, distinguishing it from some of the duller comps in the past several years.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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The lagging percentage of women film directors last year is a clear sign that the industry is going backward, said Kirsten Schaffer, chief executive of WIF, which advocates for women in Hollywood.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
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The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Cavs looked lethargic, the building lacked energy because the home team gave them nothing to cheer for and now this erratic, inconsistent season could come to an end Monday night.—
Esfandiar Baraheni,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
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In a film running a lethargic 2 hours 20 minutes, the Farhadis have kept only the set-up and composer Zbigniew Preisner’s delicate but hauntingly emotional score.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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