2
: slow to respond (as to stimulation or treatment)
3
a
: markedly slow in movement, flow, or growth
b
: economically inactive or slow
sluggishly
adverb
sluggishness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of sluggish in a Sentence
The game picked up after a sluggish start.
the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome
Recent Examples on the Web
Overall, weekend revenue is sluggish as year-to-date revenue tumbles more than 20 percent behind last year.
—
Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Apr. 2024
One reason for sluggish global growth, Georgieva said, is disappointing improvement in productivity.
—Paul Wiseman, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
But while early research found the service, called Chronic Care Management, reduced emergency room and in-patient hospital visits and lowered total health spending, uptake has been sluggish.
—Phil Galewitz, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024
His work at the esteemed toy company began six years ago, when sales were sluggish and Barbie was just a beloved doll.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
Several brands, including Jeep, Tesla and Ford, reduced prices to win back inflation-weary consumers and spur demand in the sluggish electric vehicle market.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
These critics, along with many science sleuths, allege that errors or sloppiness are too common, that research organizations and authors often ignore concerns when they’re identified, and that the path from complaint to correction is sluggish.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
Some economists suggest this spending boom — and rising consumer sentiment about the economy — could boost industries with sluggish growth.
—Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
The upbeat forecast comes after Samsung reported four straight quarters of declining profits, as demand for consumer devices and the chips that power them remained sluggish last year.
—Diksha Madhok, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Apr. 2024
One reason for sluggish global growth, Georgieva said, is disappointing improvement in productivity.
—Paul Wiseman, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
But while early research found the service, called Chronic Care Management, reduced emergency room and in-patient hospital visits and lowered total health spending, uptake has been sluggish.
—Phil Galewitz, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024
His work at the esteemed toy company began six years ago, when sales were sluggish and Barbie was just a beloved doll.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
Several brands, including Jeep, Tesla and Ford, reduced prices to win back inflation-weary consumers and spur demand in the sluggish electric vehicle market.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
These critics, along with many science sleuths, allege that errors or sloppiness are too common, that research organizations and authors often ignore concerns when they’re identified, and that the path from complaint to correction is sluggish.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
Some economists suggest this spending boom — and rising consumer sentiment about the economy — could boost industries with sluggish growth.
—Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
The upbeat forecast comes after Samsung reported four straight quarters of declining profits, as demand for consumer devices and the chips that power them remained sluggish last year.
—Diksha Madhok, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sluggish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sluggish
adjective
slug·gish
ˈsləg-ish 
: slow in movement or reaction by habit or condition
sluggishly
adverb
sluggishness
noun
Medical Definition
sluggish
adjective
slug·gish
ˈsləg-ish
: markedly slow in movement, progression, or response
sluggish healing
sluggishly
adverb
sluggishness
noun
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