as in slowly
at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected
the car responds sluggishly until it warms up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 sluggishly
Their survival to this day tells us Mars' mantle has evolved sluggishly over billions of years.
—
Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggishly
slowly
Adverb
-
Neural highways that once buzzed with activity are becoming quiet country roads, rarely traveled and slowly overgrown.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
But even if the plant slowly returns to life, the sense of betrayal in South Korea – and a new wariness among companies there to invest in the US – may linger far longer.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sluggishly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggishly. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share