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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sluggish
A slow start for the champs After a 90-minute lightning delay, North Crowley (1-0) got off to a sluggish start with three punts and two interceptions.
—
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
The July estimate and the large downward revisions to the May and June numbers indicates employment is growing at a sluggish rate.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
While sluggish compared to active dunes, this movement is still evidence that the Martian surface is not geologically dead as was once thought, scientists say.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Factory-gate deflation deepened in June and July, falling to its worst level in two years as sluggish domestic demand compounded the country’s overcapacity pressure.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
The July estimate and the large downward revisions to the May and June numbers indicates employment is growing at a sluggish rate.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
While sluggish compared to active dunes, this movement is still evidence that the Martian surface is not geologically dead as was once thought, scientists say.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Factory-gate deflation deepened in June and July, falling to its worst level in two years as sluggish domestic demand compounded the country’s overcapacity pressure.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Biden, who ended his bid for a second White House term 107 days before last year's election, has been relatively slow to move on presidential library planning compared with most of his recent predecessors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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With Parkinson’s, doctors implant electrodes in the brain that produce electrical impulses to disrupt the abnormal signals that cause tremors, stiffness and slow movement.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After dropping a sleepy rubber match to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, the Tigers have lost nine of their past 13 games.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, the government even started paying people to move to its sleepy medieval villages.—
Siobhan Reid,
Robb Report,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Bring along family or friends to enjoy a leisurely walk, trip to your local cider mill, adventurous hike or a picnic.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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With plates this inventive, brunch at Etch is less a leisurely pause and more an invitation to explore bold, boundary-crossing flavors.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Early on, the dull chamber music of the Ferrari 296’s wide-angle V6 gas-electric hybrid powertrain was roundly criticized.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Rather than efficiently dicing and slicing your produce, a dull knife actually requires more force, which can cause you or someone else in your household to get hurt.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Inventory And Demand Forecasting Forecasting has traditionally been a mix of guesswork and lagging indicators.—
Albert Lie,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Trailing after two lethargic quarters, the Chiefs gained life when Chargers rookie Omarion Hampton mistakenly ran out of bounds, giving Kansas City one last possession before the end of the half.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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Pets with salmonella or listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain.—
Matt Cannon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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