You can describe something as sluggish if it moves, works, or reacts much slower than you would like or is normal.
The economy remains sluggish.
Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.
...the sluggish pace of reforms.
Synonyms: inactive, slow, lethargic, listless More Synonyms of sluggish
sluggishlygraded adverb [ADVERB after verb, also ADVERB adjective]
The company has responded sluggishly to these changes in technology.
sluggishnessuncountable noun
...the sluggishness of Britain's economic recovery.
Synonyms: inactivity, lethargy, drowsiness, apathy More Synonyms of sluggish
sluggish in British English
(ˈslʌɡɪʃ)
adjective
1.
lacking energy; inactive; slow-moving
2.
functioning at below normal rate or level
3.
exhibiting poor response to stimulation
Derived forms
sluggishly (ˈsluggishly)
adverb
sluggishness (ˈsluggishness)
noun
sluggish in American English
(ˈslʌgɪʃ)
adjective
1.
lacking energy, alertness, or vigor; indisposed to exertion; slothful
2.
not active; slow or slow-moving; dull
3.
not functioning with normal vigor
Derived forms
sluggishly (ˈsluggishly)
adverb
sluggishness (ˈsluggishness)
noun
Word origin
< slug1 + -ish
Examples of 'sluggish' in a sentence
sluggish
That suggests that there will a sluggish recovery in jobs as the economy picks up.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It has faced pricing pressure amid sluggish business spending and stiff competition.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This lack of visibility will ensure further delays in investing and means another quarter of sluggish growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Central banks succeeded in that but recovery is painfully sluggish.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But sluggish business investment has been one of the big disappointments of the past couple of years.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Recovery is likely to be gradual as wage growth will be sluggish.
The Sun (2010)
And the reason that wage growth is sluggish is that labour productivity is so weak.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One of the key reasons for our sluggish economic recovery is that consumers have not been increasing their spending.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Riders must aim to keep moving at a wobbly, sluggish pace.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Leading while feeling stagnant and sluggish are sure ways to self-destruct in ministry.
Christianity Today (2000)
Germany's sluggish economy has not yet arrived at a crisis which would make change inescapable.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Worse still, they are predicting an extraordinarily sluggish recovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This inhibited sales, and business was sluggish.
Gavin Weightman THE FROZEN WATER TRADE (2002)
If you feel sluggish in the morning, use turquoise tones in the bathroom.
The Sun (2015)
Most economists still expect a sluggish recovery in 2010 that will pick up speed next year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Do you sometimes feel sluggish and heavy round your ankles, feet and waist?
Colette Harris, With Theresa Cheung PCOS DIET BOOK: How you can use the nutritional approach to deal with polycysticovary syndrome (2002)
While that pointed to modest growth, retailers reported that business was sluggish for the time of year.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The sluggish pace of trade growth since the financial crisis is ominous for a global economy that is facing the risk of a sharp slowdown.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are many problems with the global economy and the sluggish pace of recovery, but things have held together.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is a difficult concept to grasp for western consumers, who are worried about job cuts and a sluggish economic recovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
How would I get through all those books at my sluggish pace?
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Given the sluggish economic outlook and worries about the medium term impact of public spending cuts, few experts are predicting strong gains this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
To make matters worse, the American economy continued sluggish.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
In other languages
sluggish
British English: sluggish ADJECTIVE
You can describe something as sluggish if it moves, works, or reacts much slower than you would like or is normal.
The economy remains sluggish.
American English: sluggish
Brazilian Portuguese: vagaroso
Chinese: 缓慢的
European Spanish: lento
French: stagnant
German: träge
Italian: fiacco
Japanese: 不振な
Korean: 굼뜬
European Portuguese: vagaroso
Latin American Spanish: lento
Chinese translation of 'sluggish'
sluggish
(ˈslʌɡɪʃ)
adj
[circulation, stream]迟(遲)缓(緩)的 (chíhuǎn de)
[economy, growth]萧条(條)的 (xiāotiáo de)
(adjective)
Definition
lacking energy
feeling sluggish and lethargic after a big meal
Synonyms
inactive
They certainly were not politically inactive.
slow
He moved in a slow, unhurried way.
lethargic
He felt too miserable and lethargic to get dressed.
listless
He was listless and pale and wouldn't eat.
heavy
I struggle to raise eyelids still heavy with sleep.
dull
We all feel dull and sleepy between 1 and 3pm.
lifeless
His novels are shallow and lifeless.
inert
He covered the inert body with a blanket
slow-moving
unresponsive
phlegmatic
She spoke in a flat, phlegmatic voice.
indolent
indolent teenagers who won't lift a finger to help
torpid
He led a lazy, torpid life at the weekends.
slothful (formal)
He was not slothful: he had been busy all night.
Opposites
lively
,
vigorous
,
energetic
,
dynamic
,
enthusiastic
,
swift
,
animated
,
brisk
,
industrious
,
alive and kicking
,
full of life
,
full of beans (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dull
Definition
not lively or energetic
We all feel dull and sleepy between 1 and 3pm.
Synonyms
lifeless,
dead,
heavy,
slow,
indifferent,
sluggish,
insensitive,
apathetic,
listless,
unresponsive,
passionless,
insensible
in the sense of heavy
Definition
clumsy and slow
I struggle to raise eyelids still heavy with sleep.
Synonyms
sluggish,
slow,
dull,
wooden,
stupid,
inactive,
inert,
apathetic,
drowsy,
listless,
indolent,
torpid,
hevE
in the sense of indolent
Definition
lazy
indolent teenagers who won't lift a finger to help
Synonyms
lazy,
slack,
idle,
slow,
sluggish,
inactive,
inert,
languid,
lethargic,
listless,
lackadaisical,
torpid,
good-for-nothing,
workshy,
slothful (formal),
lumpish,
fainéant
Synonyms of 'sluggish'
sluggish
Explore 'sluggish' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inert
Definition
inactive or lifeless
He covered the inert body with a blanket
Synonyms
inactive,
still,
motionless,
dead,
passive,
slack,
static,
dormant,
lifeless,
leaden,
immobile,
inanimate,
unresponsive,
unmoving,
quiescent,
torpid,
unreactive,
slumberous (poetic)
in the sense of lethargic
He felt too miserable and lethargic to get dressed.