1
as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the sluggish pace of the project is worrisome
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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
First, news broke that the Office of Management and Budget had barred the NIH from spending its funds on anything but staff salaries and expenses—yet another blow to grant-making that effectively guaranteed that the agency’s already sluggish spending would completely stagnate.
—
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025
But a mixture of mismanagement and wider difficulties contributed to the sluggish spread of broadband, as Spectrum reported in 2004.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 Aug. 2025
Movement can be sluggish depending on the character, but that’s by design.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Sales of new electric vehicles in California remained sluggish in the second quarter of this year and the road ahead appears bumpy, as federal tax credits will expire at the end of next month.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025
But a mixture of mismanagement and wider difficulties contributed to the sluggish spread of broadband, as Spectrum reported in 2004.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 Aug. 2025
Movement can be sluggish depending on the character, but that’s by design.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Sales of new electric vehicles in California remained sluggish in the second quarter of this year and the road ahead appears bumpy, as federal tax credits will expire at the end of next month.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Three organic meats are on offer for Sunday roast: slow roasted Black Angus, with creamed horseradish; succulent Tamworth Pork with bramley apple sauce and Texel Lamb with a classic mint sauce.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The goal is to evolve The Really Useful Group from a sleepy theater company into an entertainment powerhouse with a hand in everything from gaming to movies to consumer products.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
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By the time morning arrives in the sleepy hamlet of Maybrook, Pennsylvania only one student, Alexy Lilly (Cary Christopher) remains.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Moroney crafted a rough melody for that section, and her friends all chipped in in leisurely fashion.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
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Take a leisurely walk through the bucolic pastureland and enjoy watching these beautiful gentle creatures enjoy their home.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The shampoo won't clean as well and can leave behind residue that makes your hair look dull and lifeless.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Aug. 2025
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With major season getting over, August is dull, and McIlroy's absence has become a lightning rod for debates about player responsibility and the Tour's authority.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Collectively, beleaguered grids and logistical challenges means those sweaty nights and lethargic days risk becoming part and parcel of European summers.—
Taco Engelaar,
Fortune,
11 Aug. 2025
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Well, that came to an end in Game 5 as McDavid was slowed as part of a mostly lethargic pace throughout the night.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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