sludge

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Technical

n. annoying rules or paperwork that make it difficult and slow to get things done.

n. institutional policies or bureaucratic hurdles that introduce unnecessary tedium and inefficiency into a process.

“The new government website was full of sludge that made applying for a passport very difficult.”

“Economists argue that administrative sludge in the healthcare system costs the country billions in lost productivity every year.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Music Informal

n. a style of heavy metal music that is very slow, loud, and dark.

n. a subgenre of heavy metal music, characterized by slow tempos, abrasive rhythms, and a pessimistic atmosphere.

“He spent the evening listening to old sludge records in his room.”

“The band's latest album is a masterclass in sludge, blending doom metal influences with a raw, aggressive production style.”

C2 · Proficiency Informal · Dialect

v. to sit or move in a heavy, lazy way.

v. to slump, slouch, or move with a heavy, lethargic gait.

“After the long hike, he just sludged down into the armchair and fell asleep.”

“The exhausted commuters sludged toward the train platform, their heads bowed against the biting winter wind.”