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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
reptiles are naturally sluggish at low temperatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 sluggish
Despite sluggish sales and affordability issues, San Diego’s home prices have been unchanged, or rising, throughout much of the year.
—
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
The bankruptcy shines a spotlight on how millions of Americans are hurting from the high cost of living and sluggish job market.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
For exhibitors, this should be another boon amid a sluggish October at the box office.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
Hogan points to Denver’s sluggish job growth as a major driver of the slowdown.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
The bankruptcy shines a spotlight on how millions of Americans are hurting from the high cost of living and sluggish job market.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
For exhibitors, this should be another boon amid a sluggish October at the box office.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
Hogan points to Denver’s sluggish job growth as a major driver of the slowdown.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
-
Audition is a slow burn, spending the better part of two hours setting up audiences for arguably one of the most graphic climaxes in horror history.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Tai chi is a form of exercise that involves slow, gentle movements and balancing poses.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Those ticket sales were enough to lead an otherwise sleepy weekend at the domestic box office.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Showgirl leads a sleepy top 10 on the latest Billboard 200, where no albums debut in the region.—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The best way to begin your excursion is with a leisurely stroll around the village’s 19th-century cemetery, where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow author Washington Irving is buried.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025
-
It all still gets done, but at a more leisurely pace.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Reeves delivers on all phases of his character arc, making a potentially dull and earnest character soar.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The text is excitable and wayward, while many of the photographs are dramatically dull.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Layer on infrastructure costs, amortization, new storage mandates, refinery retrofits for changing crude blends and the lagging effects of the LCFS credit.—
Michael Mische,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The market is lethargic nationwide, too, with 345,016 sales, down 9% in a year and 18% below average.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Warning signs for parents Altman explained that indicators a child has ingested drugs include being lethargic, having bloodshot eyes and not being able to focus on anything.—
Brenda Ordonez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share