slow 1 of 3

Definition of slownext
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2
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily we love our bulldog though he's a little slower than our German shepherd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the first half of the movie is slow, but then it gets exciting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slow

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verb

slow

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slow distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slow are delay, detain, retard, and slacken. While all these words mean "to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress," slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention.

medication slowed the patient's heart rate

In what contexts can delay take the place of slow?

In some situations, the words delay and slow are roughly equivalent. However, delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

When would detain be a good substitute for slow?

The meanings of detain and slow largely overlap; however, detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

Where would retard be a reasonable alternative to slow?

While in some cases nearly identical to slow, retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

language barriers retarded their progress

When can slacken be used instead of slow?

The synonyms slacken and slow are sometimes interchangeable, but slacken suggests an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

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 slow
Adjective
But uptake has been slow, reflecting a broader industry-wide reticence to shell out. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 13 Feb. 2026 This one is a slow burn and has an unexpected villain! Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Apple even pushed through a rare round of cuts — though the bloodletting slowed by the end of the year. Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 However, Machado seems to have regrouped following the elbow surgery that marred the end of his 2023 season and slowed him to start 2024. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Ilana Panich-Linsman for NBC News Twenty-seven children and camp counselors were among the 130 people who died after slow-moving thunderstorms in Kerr County caused the Guadalupe River to flood on July 4 and turned a national holiday into a Texas tragedy. Hayley Walker, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026 Even on streets that have been thoroughly cleared, plowed snow has sometimes piled into lanes of traffic, making commutes slower. Dan Snyder, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow
Adjective
  • Just like the trains themselves, these glamorous culinary experiences are reminiscent of the golden era of travel, with gracious table-settings, intricate confections, and a leisurely, unhurried pace.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The hike up took under two hours at a leisurely pace, and the 360-degree views of the entire island were surreal.
    James Barrett, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • And then quite a bit of dumb bits, like really dumb bits.
    Eric Ducker, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The multi-vehicle pile-up that ensues might go even dumber than a Rusko drop, yet there’s no escaping the anxiety that remains in the static hiss that closes the track.
    James Gui, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Her baffling disappearance has gripped the nation, leading many Americans to question how an octogenarian leading a sleepy life in the Southwest was taken while her neighbors were asleep.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
  • In 2020, however, narcos invaded the sleepy rancho and robbed, killed and kidnapped with abandon.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The boring lunch ends boringly, with the women sipping their champagne in silence, tucking into their salads, and ignoring the commemorative glasses that no one wanted.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
  • This sounds like a boring event but the boys turn the act of breaking up ice or sleet sheets from the sidewalk into a hockey-like competition.
    Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Stanton demonstrates his battery by shorting the coils, which halts the pendulum due to the magnetic field’s braking effect.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
  • According to officials, the SUV attempted to brake for debris on the road when the bus collided, sending them both into the concrete barrier and ending up on the Turner Turnpike shoulder.
    Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 8 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • Shiffrin, winner of 71 slalom World Cup victories and a gold medal in the event, started slowly and skied tentatively to finish 15th out of 18 skiers, her worst place since March 17, 2012.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Upon slowly approaching each other, Diabate put his head down to butt up against Duren’s forehead and Duren proceeded to swipe at Diabate.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Such as the one where the candidate remarked that some white rural Americans were stupid and racist.
    Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Sudan plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country, leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
  • He was taken to the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, the medical examiner’s office said.
    William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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