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 ad blitz comes as the teen retailer, like many merchants, wrestles with sluggish consumer spending and higher costs from tariffs.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 July 2025
Demand is likely to remain sluggish amid sustained high mortgage rates.
—Shonda Novak, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
As Juneteenth celebrations in downtown Miami faded into a sluggish Thursday night, a trickle of guests made their way past the red velvet ropes and security guards at Lucky Strike.
—Shanae Hardy, Billboard, 30 July 2025
Politicians and environmental groups, among others, are castigating PJM for the increases and blaming the grid operator for being too sluggish in approving high-voltage connections of renewable power sources such as wind farms to population centers.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 July 2025
Demand is likely to remain sluggish amid sustained high mortgage rates.
—Shonda Novak, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
As Juneteenth celebrations in downtown Miami faded into a sluggish Thursday night, a trickle of guests made their way past the red velvet ropes and security guards at Lucky Strike.
—Shanae Hardy, Billboard, 30 July 2025
Politicians and environmental groups, among others, are castigating PJM for the increases and blaming the grid operator for being too sluggish in approving high-voltage connections of renewable power sources such as wind farms to population centers.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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As elevated mortgage rates continue to put a damper on the housing market locally and nationally, rising inventory, slower sales and lower prices have made for more favorable conditions for potential buyers in the Austin-area housing market.—
Shonda Novak,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Progress toward the opening of the micro-home village has been slow following a ceremonial groundbreaking held in July 2023.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Now, both parties are stepping up their efforts to win control of state legislatures across the country, shining a fresh light on races that have long been considered sleepy affairs.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
31 July 2025
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As the sleepy sports calendar did its usual job of throttling Peacock’s momentum on the customer-acquisition front, the losses at Comcast’s legacy cable unit were similarly predictable.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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While several of our Central Texas neighbors are basking in the top 30, Austin seems to have taken a leisurely stroll down to the 164th spot.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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But before the summer fruit became an icon of a leisurely lifestyle, tomatoes, at least in American culture, were once a symbol of progressive rural life.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The only other real difference was that the no-sugar version looked shinier and gummier, whereas the originals were a bit duller in comparison.—
Lisa DeSantis,
Glamour,
29 July 2025
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Changeable conditions usually make for exciting races, but 2025 was a bit dull.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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The dog appeared healthy during his morning walk before becoming lethargic and vomiting in his kennel, according to NBC 6 South Florida.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
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Fast forward nine months and that rosy picture is beginning to look a little more lethargic.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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