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
Bellingham looked sluggish and disconnected from his team-mates for most of the game.
—
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Since ending 14 years of Conservative rule roiled by austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic, Labour has struggled to ease the cost of living and jump-start a sluggish economy against the tough economic backdrop of war in Ukraine and, more recently, Iran.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The system — a sluggish trough of low pressure extending from the Four Corners in the desert Southwest to Baja California late Wednesday — is now expected to bring wetter weather to Houston this weekend.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
In its $224 billion loan book, Amex has plenty of exposure to small and medium-size businesses, and that sector has turned sluggish, owing to tariffs and inflation.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Since ending 14 years of Conservative rule roiled by austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic, Labour has struggled to ease the cost of living and jump-start a sluggish economy against the tough economic backdrop of war in Ukraine and, more recently, Iran.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
The system — a sluggish trough of low pressure extending from the Four Corners in the desert Southwest to Baja California late Wednesday — is now expected to bring wetter weather to Houston this weekend.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
In its $224 billion loan book, Amex has plenty of exposure to small and medium-size businesses, and that sector has turned sluggish, owing to tariffs and inflation.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Pool service can be a bit slow during busy times, but once your perfectly prepared daiquiri arrives, all is forgiven.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
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So future agreements could involve cooler normalisation, selective security cooperation, quieter diplomacy and a slower expansion.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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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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 21 May. 2026.
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