sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈslə-gish How to pronounce sluggish (audio)
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

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.
The junta’s sluggish response to the 2008 cyclone ramped up scrutiny of the military government at the time and placed pressure on it to change, eventually leading to the rise of a civilian government, albeit short-lived. Chad De Guzman, Time, 3 Apr. 2025 Fields recalled how even during the sluggish economic recovery from the Great Recession, Ford faced challenges hiring and retaining workers. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025 With both wrestlers imminently departing the company, a palpable lack of enthusiasm permeated the match, resulting in a sluggish, uninspired affair. Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025 But instead of sluggish flying mechanics, the experience centers on weighless-feeling navigation through a red-hued futuristic city filled with massive demons. Kazuma Hashimoto, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on sluggish

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