1
as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sleepy
slow to move or act
reptiles are naturally sluggish at low temperatures
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sluggish
The California legislature’s move to increase the film and TV tax incentive cap to $750 million annually is aimed at combating sluggish production in the state.
—
Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
With increasingly bloated inventories and sagging sales, ground-breaking on single-family homes last month remained sluggish, according to figures out last week.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 June 2025
The right-hander settled in after a sluggish start, going seven innings in the 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays in front of a sellout crowd of 41,488.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
The typically sluggish Phil, outfitted from head to toe in the style of Professor Coltrane Von Tutt, bounded out onto the convention floor with dramatic flair, flipping his homemade purple cape vigorously from side to side.
—Hazlitt, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
With increasingly bloated inventories and sagging sales, ground-breaking on single-family homes last month remained sluggish, according to figures out last week.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 June 2025
The right-hander settled in after a sluggish start, going seven innings in the 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays in front of a sellout crowd of 41,488.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
The typically sluggish Phil, outfitted from head to toe in the style of Professor Coltrane Von Tutt, bounded out onto the convention floor with dramatic flair, flipping his homemade purple cape vigorously from side to side.
—Hazlitt, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Forecasters at the National Weather Service said there was the potential for additional catastrophic flooding and heavy rainfall in the region throughout Saturday, given the storm’s slow craw across the state.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
5 July 2025
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Even though we've all been told gray is on its way out for quite some time, it's been a slow burn.—
Tessa Cooper,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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In the comments, Susie offered some extra context about the sleepy passenger in the bed, clarifying to another user that the cocker spaniel refusing to budge is actually the mother of the second spaniel walking alongside them.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
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Even its flavor conjures a deep sleepy forest with woody, spicy and herbaceous notes, and finishes pleasantly bitter.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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For those not at Borgo Santo Pietro during the pop-up, a visit to the hotel’s trattoria to order from the Fermenting Garden menu should do the trick, or even a leisurely tour of the vegetable garden itself.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
9 July 2025
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Travelers can bike at port stops or opt for leisurely museum visits.—
Jeff Fromm,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Generally, names as a kind of artist name are quite dull nowadays anyway.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 July 2025
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Sometimes, an artist who is too long viewed as an outsider to Music City's style and sound will see the shine of the bright lights grow dull on their art.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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So far, in 2025, crypto companies (and companies investing in crypto) are proving to be the most resilient and adaptable players in an otherwise lethargic public market.—
Christopher Perkins,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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When McCaughan got ahead in the count 0-2, a crowd largely quieted by a lethargic Twins offense got loud enough for the pitcher to notice.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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