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
Vast stretches of suburban concrete block its natural drainage, and thousands of homes have been built along its winding, sluggish tributaries.
—
Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
On that single basis, his campaign exemplified a strategy almost completely devoid of any serious debate about California’s numerous issues, such as homelessness, poverty, water supply, a sluggish economy and a state budget awash in red ink.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
European officials at Semafor World Economy this week have warned that the EU faces stagflation — a combination of sluggish growth and high inflation — as a result of the closure of the strait, which normally carries about 20% of the world’s oil.
—Chris Wellisz, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The recovery in China remains at the top of investors’ minds in 2026, as does the impact of the war in the Middle East – a region that’s been one of the sector’s few bright spots amid sluggish growth elsewhere.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
On that single basis, his campaign exemplified a strategy almost completely devoid of any serious debate about California’s numerous issues, such as homelessness, poverty, water supply, a sluggish economy and a state budget awash in red ink.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
European officials at Semafor World Economy this week have warned that the EU faces stagflation — a combination of sluggish growth and high inflation — as a result of the closure of the strait, which normally carries about 20% of the world’s oil.
—Chris Wellisz, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The recovery in China remains at the top of investors’ minds in 2026, as does the impact of the war in the Middle East – a region that’s been one of the sector’s few bright spots amid sluggish growth elsewhere.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Plane outlets are often slow, loose, or even nonexistent, and when delays stack up, a dead phone becomes a real problem—not just an inconvenience.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
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When Manning began teaching in the early 1990s, communication between teachers and parents moved at a slower, more deliberate pace.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
While other Caribbean islands can be sleepy (too sleepy, sometimes) at night, the fun is just getting started when the sun sets in Curaçao.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
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In theaters Friday after a strong reception at SXSW last month, the genre-scrambling, darkly comic neo-western casts him as Ulysses, a principled small-town sheriff who takes a temporary posting in a sleepy corner of Minnesota called Normal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Lounge remains a favorite for leisurely breakfasts and afternoon tea.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
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If all goes according to plan, its protective heat shield and a sequence of massive parachutes will ensure that the capsule—and the four astronauts inside—will land with a gentle splash in the Pacific Ocean at a leisurely 17 miles per hour.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The long layoff between seasons of Euphoria apparently didn’t dull viewers’ enthusiasm for the show.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
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Pastas and Grains Similar to powdered laundry detergent, pastas and grains have packaging that's dull, boring, and bulky.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
15 Apr. 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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According to the Martin County report, Deputy Tatiana Levenar observed Woods to be sweating profusely, lethargic and slow.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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The commercial drive was boosted by a wave of immigrants, including many Jews, from Russia and other parts of the Hapsburg Empire, who were welcomed to the city in the mid 19th century to jump-start a lethargic economy.—
Joshua Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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