sluggish

adjective

ˈslə-gish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
Definition of sluggishnext
1
as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome

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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

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 Cramer said one notable exception to his framework for investing during rotations is Meta, which jumped Wednesday after a sluggish start to the year. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 1 July 2026 Merz’s coalition of center-right and center-left parties took office just over a year ago with pledges to reform and turn around Germany’s sluggish economy, Europe’s biggest. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 Many competitors often report feeling sluggish, sleepy, or uncomfortable afterward. — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026 The job market, which appeared sluggish as the new year began, has exceeded expectations in recent months, even as inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. — Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
  1. slow
  2. sleepy
  3. leisurely
  4. dull
  5. lagging
  6. lethargic
Adjective
  • There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • His long white oval scleras and perfect-circle black pupils, sometimes open and sometimes closed, are always inexplicably expressive—managing to seem happy, sad, scared, sleepy, shifty, angry, eager, alarmed, mischievous, or murderous.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
  • Hualde says that some Pamplona residents rue his early promotion of the festival due to the ills of overtourism the sleepy provincial city is now experiencing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • Take in its beauty at a leisurely pace atop a paddleboard or in a kayak borrowed from Aloha Paddle Lake Norman, which offers rentals and beginner-friendly lessons.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
  • The relaxed and roomy silhouette is perfect for keeping you comfortable on long strolls and during leisurely lunches, and pairs beautifully with everything from flip flops to comfy loafers or heeled sandals.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Definition of leisurely
Adjective
  • But all work and no play can make for a dull chief scientific officer.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 2 July 2026
  • The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
    — Owen Lamont, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of dull
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
  • The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Definition of lagging
Adjective
  • Signs of heat stroke in dogs include heavy panting and drooling, being weak or lethargic, bright red gums and bloodshot eyes.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • When to Contact a Wildlife Rehabilitator Always contact a wildlife rehabilitator if the turtle appears injured, such as having a cracked shell, or seems lethargic or sick.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
Definition of lethargic

Browse Nearby Words

slugging (down)
sluggish
sluggishly
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Cite this Entry

“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sluggish

Nglish: Translation of sluggish for Spanish Speakers

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