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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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 But spending has remained sluggish since the pandemic, while money has flowed instead into AI, chips and hardware. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 July 2026 Higher energy costs during the war in Iran have helped lift China out of one of its longest periods of deflation, as the nation struggles with industrial overcapacity and sluggish domestic demand. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 After a prolonged period of sluggish performance in the luxury sector, investors will need to be patient a little longer. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 15 July 2026 The chip industry also provides an economic boost to an otherwise sluggish Chinese economy. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 15 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
  • General Daily Insight for July 26, 2026 A slower pace could reveal what pressure has been hiding.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
  • With a boat launch, any size motors are invited, but must be operated at a slow no-wake speed, according to the park website.
    — Zuri Primos July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 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
  • If cancer has spread to nearby tissues or organs, other signs may include difficulty or pain with peeing, loss of appetite and weight, dull backache or swelling in your legs, pelvic and abdominal pain, diarrhea and fatigue.
    — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • But to everybody else, 1966 was a dull tournament, characterised by lenient refereeing that meant the star players — particularly Pele — struggled to have an impact.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 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 27 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sluggish for Spanish Speakers

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