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 Last fall, major lenders reported that business was booming despite a sluggish art market, arguing that collectors preferred borrowing against valuable works rather than selling into weaker conditions. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 July 2026 The strength in the sector continues to be a shining light, one that is helping high-end maisons and their conglomerates buck a sluggish luxury market as demand for jewelry continues to rise. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 27 July 2026 Disney’s live-action reimagining of Moana got off to a sluggish start and hasn’t picked up steam three weeks into its run. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 26 July 2026 But sluggish economic recovery in the country raises questions about whether all the oil money has been made available for Venezuela’s use, according to the Financial Times. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 24 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
  • The slow pace continued for a while, but eventually, Punk took down Rhodes with a leaping heel kick and tweaked his knee.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Long days were spent cleaning, drawing and waiting for customers during slow periods, all while mastering a craft that permanently alters another person’s body.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • But only a few days ago, this sleepy community was struck by tragedy when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old father and Colombian national.
    — Carine Hajjar, Washington Post, 21 July 2026
  • The formerly sleepy economies of suburban Austin, Texas and Syracuse, NY are getting two new semiconductor chip plants.
    — Adrian Ma, NPR, 21 July 2026
Definition of sleepy
Adjective
  • With Prague Boats, a two-hour trip takes you out into the suburbs for a leisurely journey through a different side of Prague.
    — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 21 July 2026
  • Previously contained by Happy Madison and the occasional Gary Sánchez outing, we’re now inundated by comedies about the leisurely arts.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of leisurely
Adjective
  • While laminate has a protective coating that shields it from damage, using the wrong cleaning products will etch away at this top layer and dull its shine.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
  • As the years go by, the hair shaft tends to thin out, resulting in strands that are more fragile, dull, and brittle.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 July 2026
Definition of dull
Adjective
  • Microsoft’s video game division plans to eliminate 3,200 jobs, or around 20% of its staff, over the next year as part of a sweeping reorganization to revive the company’s lagging games division.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 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
  • If your dog is stumbling, lethargic, vomiting, collapses or is unresponsive, contact a vet immediately while working to cool down your dog.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 16 July 2026
  • 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
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 2 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sluggish for Spanish Speakers

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