slow 1 of 3

1
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

3
4
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

2 of 3

verb

slow

3 of 3

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
It's been a slow ramp up for Alpha, with the rocket having launched just a single time in 2024, in July. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025 After a slow few weeks on the PGA Tour calendar, things are heating back up with two of the biggest events on tour followed by the first major of the year. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
The team continues to evaluate Shaw’s readiness after the top prospect’s start to camp was slowed by a left oblique injury. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025 He and Dobbins — former teammates with the Baltimore Ravens — were expected to be a dynamic one-two punch for the Chargers, but injuries slowed down both running backs. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
Adverb
But edging up the maximum age is going slower, according to David Sinclair, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School’s Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025 Eat slow: Rather than rushing your meal in five minutes, slow things down. Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow
Adjective
  • Ahead of you lies a day—or a week, a summer, or a lifetime—of leisurely unwinding.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The event should take about two hours walking at a leisurely pace.
    Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.
    Daniel Jackson, Allure, 18 July 2017
  • Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.
    Andy Benoit, The MMQB, 10 July 2017
Adjective
  • Stay Here: Christian Louboutin’s Vermelho (a Relais & Châteaux property in the sleepy village of Melides) is a true visual feast.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Eco-friendly boutique shops, trendy coffee spots, and cafes selling poke bowls have also popped up throughout the sleepy coastal town.
    Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The whole thing also looks pretty—budget and midrange phones tend to be super boring, but the Pixel 8A has a smart design with a matte rear texture.
    Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.
    Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • On a faster urban-style circuit, the weight in the back didn’t ruin braking or handling.
    James Morris, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Miami Marlins: Two championships (1997, 2003) in 32 seasons — The then-Florida Marlins won the World Series in only their fifth season and repeated six years later, but that early franchise momentum braked and spun into reverse.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • For curly hair, use a diffuser to slowly dry strands, using hands to define curls and separate strands as needed.
    Marie Bladt, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2025
  • These effects [known as magnetic braking] lead to the pulsar spinning more slowly as time goes on.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • When Luca pulls a gun on him, ordering him to drive, Spencer quickly disarms him and then slaps him for the stupid move.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Indexing gives you a better chance to ‘be less stupid.’ — Investment advisor Barry Ritholtz Those dismal statistics come to us via the latest annual SPIVA scorecard (the acronym stands for Standard and Poor’s Index vs. Active).
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Windermere man and a passenger in the BMW M2, a 23-year-old woman from Orlando, were transported to Orlando Health Dr. Phillips Hospital and were later pronounced dead.
    Elainie Barraza, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Morgan and his three passengers, Ashley Nicole Caviness, 14; Danielle Nicole White, 13; and Brady Frizzell, 14, all of Humphrey, were pronounced dead at the scene.
    The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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