Word Adjective
sluggish
adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsɫəɡɪʃ/ UK /slˈʌɡɪʃ/ slug·gish
Definition
adj.moving or reacting more slowly than usual. You use this when you feel tired or when a system, like a computer or the economy, is not working fast.
adj.characterised by a lack of energy, speed, or alertness. Often describes physical states, economic performance, or mechanical systems.
Examples
“I feel a bit sluggish after that heavy lunch.”
“The technician investigated why the server was sluggish during peak hours.”
“Economists expressed concern over the sluggish growth in the manufacturing sector, which has failed to recover despite significant government intervention.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel', 'become', or 'remain'.
Etymology
From slug + -ish.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated