sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈslə-gish 

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

Synonyms

• crawling
• creeping
• dallying
• dawdling
• dilatory
• dillydallying
• dragging
• laggard
• lagging
• languid
• leisurely
• poking
• poky
• pokey
• slow
• snail-paced
• snaillike
• tardy
• unhurried

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

Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff—who has emerged as the main contact broker with Moscow officials—met Putin in St. Petersburg on Friday in a bid to move on sluggish negotiations on a ceasefire deal. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025

There have been too many games this season where Tottenham have looked sluggish up front and struggled to create chances, but that was not the case on Thursday. —Jay Harris, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Ridership still remains sluggish in many cities even five years after people shifted to working from home during the pandemic. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025

Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Feeling sluggish, depressed, anxious, and having trouble concentrating while being sick might not just be due to physical weakness. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish 

: slow in movement or reaction by habit or condition

sluggishly adverb

sluggishness noun

Medical Definition

sluggish

adjective

slug·​gish ˈsləg-ish 

: markedly slow in movement, progression, or response

sluggish healing

sluggishly adverb

sluggishness noun