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 pledge of public sector cutbacks comes as growth in New Zealand's economy remains sluggish and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who sold himself as a better fiscal manager than his opponents, seeks to show evidence of economic recovery before November's vote.
—
ABC News, 18 May 2026
Automakers across the board are dealing with sluggish EV sales despite rising gasoline prices in 2026.
—New Atlas, 18 May 2026
Perhaps, but Alonso’s attentive gaze reworks the meaning of excitement such that a banal exchange with the nearby farmhand, and a drive into the nearby village, provide minor thrills — that is, if you’re properly settled onto Alonso’s serenely sluggish wavelength.
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026
The basic concept in hockey that the game begins when the puck drops eluded the Ducks all season and, fittingly, a sluggish start ended their campaign on Thursday night at Honda Center.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
ABC News, 18 May 2026
Automakers across the board are dealing with sluggish EV sales despite rising gasoline prices in 2026.
—New Atlas, 18 May 2026
Perhaps, but Alonso’s attentive gaze reworks the meaning of excitement such that a banal exchange with the nearby farmhand, and a drive into the nearby village, provide minor thrills — that is, if you’re properly settled onto Alonso’s serenely sluggish wavelength.
—Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026
The basic concept in hockey that the game begins when the puck drops eluded the Ducks all season and, fittingly, a sluggish start ended their campaign on Thursday night at Honda Center.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
-
Scratching high on the bridge, Werner’s splintering fiddle calls to mind the slow, magical hatching of an egg.—
Lily Goldberg,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2026
-
The better play is slower and pays back forever.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Tucked into the sleepy hillside village of Agra, the home was originally commissioned as a vacation house for Milanese entrepreneur Luigi Cattaneo.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
13 May 2026
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Memory has been the biggest theme of late due to a global shortage that's driven up prices and turned Micron, a 47-year-old company tucked in a sleepy corner of the semiconductor market, into one of the hottest trades over the past 12 months.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
They’re also covered in an airy mesh upper material that facilitates airflow during activities — including sweaty workouts and leisurely strolls.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Yes, there are two international trips, including one to the literal other side of the world — a destination that makes Mexico City’s 7,200 feet of altitude seem like a leisurely stroll down the block, making the Niners the league’s official guinea pigs for global domination.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The world of college football is rarely dull.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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This charger brings interactivity and enthusiasm to this process that has been viewed as so dull for so long.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
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Frank never had a chance of uniting the crowd following lethargic home defeats to Chelsea, Fulham and Arsenal.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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