1
as in dilatoriness
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2
as in lethargy
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Recent Examples of sluggishness
After an extended stretch of sluggishness, investors were happy to look past third-quarter results and current-quarter guidance that were solid, not stellar.
—
Zev Fima, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
As a result, pricing has stayed relatively stable despite the sluggishness.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Still, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled last week that the central bank may cut its key interest rate at its meeting next month, amid signs of sluggishness in the job market.
—Alex Veiga, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio purports to be fixing bureaucratic sluggishness with decisive leadership.
—John Dinkelman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Though nearly two decades into his professional career, Sylvester isn’t showing any hints of sluggishness.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Zev Fima, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
As a result, pricing has stayed relatively stable despite the sluggishness.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Still, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled last week that the central bank may cut its key interest rate at its meeting next month, amid signs of sluggishness in the job market.
—Alex Veiga, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio purports to be fixing bureaucratic sluggishness with decisive leadership.
—John Dinkelman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Though nearly two decades into his professional career, Sylvester isn’t showing any hints of sluggishness.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggishness
Noun
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Infected pets may experience lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.—
Eva Wen,
jsonline.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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People experiencing more severe infections may also suffer high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, rashes and blood in their urine.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Qing Yuan seldom complained about Qi Chu’s tardiness, but this morning his patience had grown thin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Forgetfulness and tardiness, for example, are both common.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In times of increasing cynicism and apathy in the zeitgeist, this phantasm extravaganza — at once humorously deadpan in its playful tableaus and poignantly sincere at its emotional core — feels like a breath of fresh air.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Oct. 2025
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Fan apathy is showing up in the attendance figures at the Rose Bowl, and the athletic department’s financial problems have been piling up — the Bruins have been operating at a cumulative deficit of over $200 million over the last five years.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The commenter went on to note that being occasionally late is one thing, but chronic lateness at someone else’s expense crosses a line.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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What makes Tagovailoa’s comments of particular concern was that habitual lateness led to the team’s cultural reset ahead of the 2025 season, something that involved trading away one of their best players in Jalen Ramsey.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Where the first half of the 1600 conversation explored how young men are drifting toward the right through grievance, alienation and algorithmic content, this installment challenges Democrats to confront their own inertia.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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American inertia has become a global liability.—
John Wihbey,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Europe’s lassitude is heightened by internal divisions.—
HENRY FARRELL,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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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 30 Oct. 2025.
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