1
as in dilatoriness
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in lethargy
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 sluggishness
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
Still, even Nvidia fans are prepared for the stock’s sluggishness to persist.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
More generally speaking, there is a case that City are contending with different physical challenges this season, something that could be behind second-half slumps and sluggishness without the ball.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 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
That means less oxygen reaching your brain—and more sluggishness.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Still, even Nvidia fans are prepared for the stock’s sluggishness to persist.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
More generally speaking, there is a case that City are contending with different physical challenges this season, something that could be behind second-half slumps and sluggishness without the ball.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 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
That means less oxygen reaching your brain—and more sluggishness.
—Lauryn Higgins, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggishness
Noun
-
Becker advises watching for excessive licking, especially of the paws, drooling, skin irritation, or unusual lethargy.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Officers on the scene noted clear signs of impairment, notably lethargy, bloodshot eyes, and difficulty with sobriety tests, despite a breathalyzer showing no alcohol.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Your partner’s frustration about your tardiness becomes, in your mind, an indictment of your character.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The growing apathy toward big-screen entertainment was also owed to the patina of all-American wholesomeness that studios imposed on their stables of stars, and the nothing-to-see-here style of movie journalism was wearing thin.—
Joshua John Miller,
Vanity Fair,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Constant boredom can cause real distress, apathy, or frustration.—
Amanda Morin,
Parents,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the George offices, Berman loses it once and for all at John’s lateness, his indifference to the daily operations of the magazine, and his hardheaded refusal to consider the TV show.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The lateness of the case is the Democrats’ own fault.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The narrators of these songs are trapped inside their habits, aware that the inertia of their personalities is too strong to be moved by another person.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Pitchfork,
7 Apr. 2026
-
These are lighter, more heat-resistant, and have less inertia, which translates to sharper turn-in and less effort to move the thing.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Apr. 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 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
