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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sluggish
December payroll growth came in at a sluggish 50,000, and earlier months were revised lower, underscoring a labor market that entered 2026 with limited momentum beyond a few key service industries.
—
Allie Canal, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
The onset of elevated inflation alongside sluggish hiring has put the Fed in a difficult position.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
But that’s outweighed greatly by the quarterback regression and sluggish start to the season.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Coming out of the holiday break, Kaneland faced a sluggish start Tuesday, leading only 7-6 late in the first quarter.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Allie Canal, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
The onset of elevated inflation alongside sluggish hiring has put the Fed in a difficult position.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
But that’s outweighed greatly by the quarterback regression and sluggish start to the season.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Coming out of the holiday break, Kaneland faced a sluggish start Tuesday, leading only 7-6 late in the first quarter.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
-
Traditional humanoid robots depend heavily on data collected by human operators, which is slow and expensive.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Her days were slow and intentional.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Time hits differently on the Aeolians, particularly on sleepy Salina, whose volcanic slopes are carpeted in wild capers and whose lava-houses and fishing villages appear cantilevered over the cliffs, with views of a smoking Stromboli.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
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January may be a bit sleepy, but HBO Max is trying its best to supplement with a one-two punch of returning seasons of The Pitt and Industry.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Other advantages include the leisurely pace, the excellent service on board, and the quality of the food and wine served.—
David Swanson,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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New research suggests that light daily movement, such as gentle stretching, a leisurely stroll, or easy household chores like vacuuming are linked to a lower risk of death in people with these overlapping conditions, called cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert finds Brooklinen’s prints a good midway point between something too chintzy or something too dull, and thinks highly of the material as well.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
8 Jan. 2026
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The fiber’s irregular length distribution—with 50 percent at 28 millimeters and 50 percent in the 10 to 20 millimeter range—delivers a textured, semi-dull and opaque aesthetic that achieves a genuine, vintage washdown performance.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
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So while America is most likely still a highly desirable place for all kinds of investors, from the average person putting money into a 401(k) to a professional trader, the lagging performance this year is more than your typical year.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Philadelphia was again doomed by a lethargic offensive effort that cost it a shot at a repeat championship.—
Dan Gelston,
Denver Post,
11 Jan. 2026
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More energy and enthusiasm There were too many times in the first few months of the season when this team looked lethargic.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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