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
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
Research also suggests that the intestine’s nerve cells are more sluggish in women, which may be why IBS and gastroparesis are more common in women.
—
Stacey Colino, TIME, 13 Sep. 2024
Amid a sluggish summer's end, as crypto prices remain well below earlier highs, there is some good news on the horizon for investors.
—Alexander S. Blume, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
Spencer Platt | Getty Images U.S. stock futures rose Friday as traders sought to shake off a sluggish September.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2024
Niccol stepped into his new role on Monday, weeks after Starbucks ousted Laxman Narasimhan, whose 18-month stint at Starbucks' helm was marred by sluggish sales, a declining stock price and fading appeal for the company, particularly among Americans.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sluggish 
Stacey Colino, TIME, 13 Sep. 2024
Amid a sluggish summer's end, as crypto prices remain well below earlier highs, there is some good news on the horizon for investors.
—Alexander S. Blume, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
Spencer Platt | Getty Images U.S. stock futures rose Friday as traders sought to shake off a sluggish September.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2024
Niccol stepped into his new role on Monday, weeks after Starbucks ousted Laxman Narasimhan, whose 18-month stint at Starbucks' helm was marred by sluggish sales, a declining stock price and fading appeal for the company, particularly among Americans.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sluggish
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sluggish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sluggish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sluggish. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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