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Definition of sluggish

sluggish

/ˈslʌɡ.ɪʃ/
slug · gish
Adverb:sluggishly
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sluggish Lexical Profile

sluggish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Slow-moving or inactive; lacking energy, alertness, or vigor.

Example

"A heavy lunch often makes me feel sluggish in the afternoon."

2

Operating, responding, or progressing more slowly than usual or than desired (especially of an economy, market, or machine).

Example

"The housing market remained sluggish throughout the winter months."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sluggish
Antonyms
View all antonyms for sluggish

• Rhymes for sluggish

• Nearby Words

slug eating snake
slugfest
slugger
sluggish
sluggishly
sluggishness
sluglike

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the early 15th century, formed from the Middle English noun 'slugge' (meaning a lazy, heavy, or slow-moving person, probably of Scandinavian origin) combined with the suffix '-ish'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sluggish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sluggish
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