sluggish

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Moving or reacting more slowly than usual; lacking energy or speed.

   Grammar: Gradable; can be used with 'very', 'rather', etc. Comparative: 'sluggisher' (rare), more often 'more sluggish'.

   Patterns

   • feel sluggish
   • sluggish economy
   • sluggish traffic

   After a big meal, I often feel sluggish and want to take a nap.

   The computer became sluggish after running too many programs.

   The economy has been sluggish for months, with few new jobs.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Not active or busy; showing little movement or progress.

   Grammar: Describes markets, sales, or activity that is slow.

   Patterns

   • sluggish sales
   • sluggish market

   Sales were sluggish during the winter months.

   The stock market was sluggish today, with little trading.

   The project has been sluggish due to lack of funding.

Word forms

Common combinations

feel sluggish

I feel sluggish in the morning before I have my coffee.

sluggish economy

The government is trying to stimulate the sluggish economy.

sluggish traffic

Traffic was sluggish on the highway due to an accident.

sluggish growth

The company reported sluggish growth in the last quarter.

Synonyms and how they differ

slow

General word for low speed; 'sluggish' often adds a sense of heaviness or lack of energy.

lethargic

More formal, suggests a lack of energy or enthusiasm, often due to illness or tiredness.

torpid

Very formal or literary; means inactive or dormant, often used for animals.

Opposites

Word family

sluggishly adverb

In a slow or lazy manner.

sluggishness noun

The state of being slow or lacking energy.

Commonly confused: sluggish or sluggard?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sluggish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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