1
as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
reptiles are naturally sluggish at low temperatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Economic warning signs and a looming rate cut The latest labor market data, including sluggish job creation in August and job losses this summer, shows that the foundation for the US economy is starting to show more cracks.
—
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
All of them have sluggish economies and aging populations.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Adek Berry | Afp | Getty Images China's consumer prices fell more than expected in August while deflation in wholesale prices persisted, as calls mounted for Beijing to ramp up measures to bolster sluggish domestic demand and cushion weakening exports growth.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Despite the sluggish market, career experts have tips up their sleeves on landing a job interview in 24 hours.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
All of them have sluggish economies and aging populations.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Adek Berry | Afp | Getty Images China's consumer prices fell more than expected in August while deflation in wholesale prices persisted, as calls mounted for Beijing to ramp up measures to bolster sluggish domestic demand and cushion weakening exports growth.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Despite the sluggish market, career experts have tips up their sleeves on landing a job interview in 24 hours.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
-
During the prelims in Tokyo, Seville had a concerning slow reaction to the starting gun.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Parisian servers may have an undeserved reputation for being slow, but instead of complaining or searching for faster service elsewhere, settle in with a book or newspaper.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Except that four years later, on The Hills, Lauren Conrad passed it up for a guy with frosted tips and sleepy vibes.—
Megan Angelo,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
-
New York — Oracle, a large but generally sleepy cloud-computing company, just had an absolutely bonkers day on Wall Street.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The leisurely trips meander along the Snake River, near Grand Teton National Park, for several hours.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Once a working farm in the time of the gold rush, since 1962 the Greenhorn has been a place where the day is taken at a leisurely pace, where visitors soak in the 600 acres that abuts to 500,000 more acres of public land.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The pre-snap process was lethargic, the playmaking was uneven, and the center-to-quarterback exchange was inconsistent.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share