1
as in dilatoriness
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2
as in lethargy
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Recent Examples of sluggishness
Djokovic, 38, was barely moving between points during the second set, and Prižmić exploited his sluggishness with consistently punishing drop shots.
—
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 8 May 2026
There was noticeable and annoying lag and sluggishness in the Windows desktop and Windows Explorer, not even counting Chrome or Office, with apps taking some 10 seconds to even open.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
These rapid blood sugar spikes and dips can drain you of your energy, leading to sluggishness, irritability, and increased hunger.
—Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2026
The sluggishness of recent months is beginning to lift, and April arrives with a welcome surge of momentum and physical energy.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
The problem of persistent economic sluggishness, the inability to reenergize the powerful engines of rapid growth, has preoccupied both policymakers and business leaders.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
But a more immediate concern is dealing with a prolonged period of sluggishness that has depressed consumer and business confidence.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Positively, though, sluggishness was a temporary trend.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
The question, then, is whether the sluggishness of the business, the suffering of union members and threats on the horizon might dissuade either side from playing hardball — or whether recent events will embolden one or the other.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 8 May 2026
There was noticeable and annoying lag and sluggishness in the Windows desktop and Windows Explorer, not even counting Chrome or Office, with apps taking some 10 seconds to even open.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
These rapid blood sugar spikes and dips can drain you of your energy, leading to sluggishness, irritability, and increased hunger.
—Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2026
The sluggishness of recent months is beginning to lift, and April arrives with a welcome surge of momentum and physical energy.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
The problem of persistent economic sluggishness, the inability to reenergize the powerful engines of rapid growth, has preoccupied both policymakers and business leaders.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
But a more immediate concern is dealing with a prolonged period of sluggishness that has depressed consumer and business confidence.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Positively, though, sluggishness was a temporary trend.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
The question, then, is whether the sluggishness of the business, the suffering of union members and threats on the horizon might dissuade either side from playing hardball — or whether recent events will embolden one or the other.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggishness
Noun
-
Deal lethargy kills that electricity slowly, the way a slow leak flattens a tire.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
-
Early signs of canine parvovirus in dogs include lethargy, lack of appetite and fever, PetMD said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some 70% of boomers have zero tolerance for any level of tardiness, but Gen Z says that 10 minutes late is still on time.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Such an occurrence is only startling at Florida because the previous man who stood behind that podium had a habit of tardiness.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not necessarily devastated or depressed in the way people often imagine depression, but just a persistent feeling of apathy or indifference.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
There can be apathy and hesitation.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
But the lateness of Feldmann’s withdrawal has led to a scramble.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
-
Stephanie Wambugu on lateness as an act of passive resistance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Some of us had spent twenty years in the same career and were itching for a change but stuck in inertia.—
Parul Somani,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
-
Large majorities of people know what these passwordless credentials are and use them to log in to at least some accounts, but they are being held back by organizational inertia.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Europe’s lassitude is heightened by internal divisions.—
HENRY FARRELL,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
-
As something of a companion piece to More, Jacques Deray’s summer thriller La Piscine is a far more dramatic and insidious tale of tropical desire, lassitude, and violence.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sluggishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggishness. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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