sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈslə-gish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
Synonyms of sluggish
1
: averse to activity or exertion : indolent
also : torpid
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 of sluggish

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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
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.
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images China’s retail sales have remained sluggish since the pandemic, with spending dipping in May from a year ago. — Matthew Tan,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 The sluggish start mirrored Wednesday’s defeat, leaving Bay FC once again chasing the game before many fans had settled into their seats. — Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026 Starmer stepped down in July after two years in office, following missteps, policy U-turns and his failure to get Britain’s sluggish economy growing. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 The animals’ slow metabolism, low blood pressure and sluggish lifestyle may reduce strain on the cardiovascular system. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sluggish

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sluggish was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

slugging percentage
sluggish
sluggishly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sluggish

adjective
slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
: slow in movement or reaction by habit or condition
sluggishly adverb
sluggishness noun

Medical Definition

sluggish

adjective
slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
: markedly slow in movement, progression, or response
sluggish healing
sluggishly adverb
sluggishness noun

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