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
The late introduction of Wout Weghorst, a sluggish target man only getting slower, underlined what the Netherlands lack.
—
Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 3 June 2026
While federal action remains sluggish, state policymakers are filling the vacuum.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
The scandal triggered an upswing of voter interest in California’s once sluggish governor’s race and in Becerra, who seized the moment.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Go back and look at just about any start this season and the Ferraris look like they've been shot out of a cannon while the Mercedes and others often look pretty sluggish.
—Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 3 June 2026
While federal action remains sluggish, state policymakers are filling the vacuum.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
The scandal triggered an upswing of voter interest in California’s once sluggish governor’s race and in Becerra, who seized the moment.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Go back and look at just about any start this season and the Ferraris look like they've been shot out of a cannon while the Mercedes and others often look pretty sluggish.
—Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Dems slow to embrace data center resistance McMillan Cottom suggested that no public officials on the right or the left have perfected their messaging to align with anti-data center sentiments.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
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Eating a donut earlier in the day is easier on your body than eating it at night when insulin sensitivity and metabolism slow.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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At the time, it was largely viewed as a sleepy networking company for enterprise.—
R. Scott Raynovich,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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Spoilers ahead for Every Year After Every Year After is the latest TV show to mine drama from a sleepy cottage town.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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In 1943, Shalit headed to the University of Illinois and took a leisurely six years to earn his degree.—
Chris Koseluk,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
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That leisurely pace would lead only to more murder, and more assassinations.—
Wesley Morris,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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The Curacao home kit is quite dull and is a slightly weird colour, but this is almost perfect.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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Unfortunately, hyaluronic acid decreases with age, which can contribute to a loss of plumpness, fine lines, and an overall duller complexion.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
10 June 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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The Cavs looked lethargic, the building lacked energy because the home team gave them nothing to cheer for and now this erratic, inconsistent season could come to an end Monday night.—
Esfandiar Baraheni,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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