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
December payroll growth came in at a sluggish 50,000, and earlier months were revised lower, underscoring a labor market that entered 2026 with limited momentum beyond a few key service industries.
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Allie Canal, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
The onset of elevated inflation alongside sluggish hiring has put the Fed in a difficult position.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
But that’s outweighed greatly by the quarterback regression and sluggish start to the season.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Coming out of the holiday break, Kaneland faced a sluggish start Tuesday, leading only 7-6 late in the first quarter.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sluggish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluggish
Adjective
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Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.—
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When visiting the exhibit, plan on taking your time to make the most of it, or what the American Federation of Arts calls slow looking.—
Adjective
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Signs to treat fevers include being unusually sleepy, cranky and refusing food and drinks.—
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Trancoso, Bahia The opening of Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa in 2009 transformed the sleepy fishing village of Trancoso into a boho-chic hot spot.—
Adjective
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Fortunately, there's usually plenty of pleasant autumn days after the first frost to tackle the remaining fall gardening tasks at a more leisurely rate.—
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During November, coastal towns transform into quieter versions of themselves, offering a season for birdwatching, leisurely walks, or festivals with good music and food.—
Adjective
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Contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert finds Brooklinen’s prints a good midway point between something too chintzy or something too dull, and thinks highly of the material as well.—
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The fiber’s irregular length distribution—with 50 percent at 28 millimeters and 50 percent in the 10 to 20 millimeter range—delivers a textured, semi-dull and opaque aesthetic that achieves a genuine, vintage washdown performance.—
Adjective
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The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.—
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So while America is most likely still a highly desirable place for all kinds of investors, from the average person putting money into a 401(k) to a professional trader, the lagging performance this year is more than your typical year.—
Adjective
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Philadelphia was again doomed by a lethargic offensive effort that cost it a shot at a repeat championship.—
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More energy and enthusiasm There were too many times in the first few months of the season when this team looked lethargic.—
Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluggish. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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