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sluggishly

sluggishly

3 3.6
Slowly and with little energy
  • adverb
  • /ˈslʌɡɪʃli/
translation icon : lentamente
  • The car may not start well and works rather sluggishly until the engine warms up.
  • moved sluggishly
  • respond sluggishly
  • flowed sluggishly

Examples

  • Something within it shifted against the glass sides; the bottle tilted sluggishly in her hand, then rolled upright.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The mission boat rose sluggishly from under her load to squat in a field of foam.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The river was there, as advertised, flowing sluggishly towards the screen.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The number rolls across some footage of a manatee family sluggishly rolling around in the water.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Slowly, too slowly, she sluggishly righted herself and plunged on, steaming through the worst storm in recent history.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The sun is low, the butterflies are sated, they fly sluggishly if at all, and their shadows on the sand are dim.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The sea heaved sluggishly, great amorphous sweeps rising and falling without apparent direction.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Gibbs eases back on the wheel, and the 747 sluggishly responds, its nose creeping upward.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Iris blinked, as if she'd just woken from a nap, and swung sluggishly around to meet Sylvie's gaze.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The traffic moved sluggishly during rush hour, causing everyone to be late for work.

Synonyms

idly
vssluggishly
37 3.7

To act in a lazy way without a clear purpose

is slow through lack of energy rather than through purposelessness
wearily
vssluggishly
23 3.0

In a tired way that shows little energy

is slow from laziness or low energy rather than overt exhaustion
lazily
vssluggishly
12 1.2

In a slow relaxed way that uses little energy

is slow due to general lack of energy rather than deliberate idleness
languidly
vssluggishly
3 7.0

In a slow, relaxed way with little energy

is similar but stresses sluggishness and lack of briskness more than calmness
at a snail's pace
vssluggishly
  • Informal
3 3.8

Very slowly, much slower than usual

describes general slowness and low energy, not necessarily extreme speed
listlessly
vssluggishly
3 5.7

In a way that shows little energy or interest

is about slow movement paired with laziness rather than mere indifference
drowsily
vssluggishly
1 2.4

In a sleepy, not fully awake way

is slow due to general lack of energy rather than sleepiness specifically
glacial pace
vssluggishly
  • Informal
1 6.8

A very slow speed of progress or movement

is about low energy and laziness rather than metaphorical extreme slowness
languorously
vssluggishly
1 8.5

Move or act in a slow, relaxed way with little energy

is slow and lazy but not focused on relaxed or pleasurable slowness
lethargically
vssluggishly
1 6.7

Slowly and without energy

is slow because of laziness or low energy rather than clinical fatigue
unenergetically
vssluggishly
6.5

In a slow, tired way showing little energy

focuses on slowness mixed with laziness rather than neutral low activity
slothfully
vssluggishly
6.5

Move or act slowly with little energy

is about being slow and low in energy but not necessarily unwilling
torpidly
vssluggishly
8.7

Moving slowly and without much energy

is slow and lazy but not necessarily deeply inactive or immobile
ploddingly
vssluggishly
8.1

In a slow, heavy way that shows little energy or interest

is slow and lazy but not specifically heavy or laborious in pace
laggardly
vssluggishly
8.1

In a slow way that makes tasks finish late

is slow in manner rather than specifically delayed in response timing
soggily
vssluggishly
7.7

In a dull, tired way that shows little energy

is slow and lazy but not focused on being dull or lifeless

Antonyms

24 3.5

Quickly and with a lot of energy to get things done

In a lively and eager way

How Quickly

quickly
1.0
slowly
1.0
sluggishly
3 3.6
motionlessly
1 4.0

Surface Forms

sluggishly positive
sluggishlier comparative
sluggishliest superlative

Morphology

sluggishly = sluggish (transparent) = sluggish + ly

The adverb 'sluggishly' is transparently derived from the adjective 'sluggish' by adding the suffix '-ly', which is a standard transformation to form adverbs.

Etymology

The word sluggishly comes from slug, a name for a slow, lazy creature or person, and the ending -ly turns it into a way of acting. So, to do something sluggishly is to do it 'slowly' or 'without energy', just like a slug moves.