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Sluggish vs Lethargic - What's the difference?

sluggish | lethargic |

As adjectives the difference between sluggish and lethargic

is that sluggish is habitually idle and lazy; slothful; dull; inactive; as, a sluggish man while lethargic is sluggish, slow.

sluggish

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Habitually idle and lazy; slothful; dull; inactive; as, a sluggish man.
  • And the sluggish land slumbers in utter neglect . --
  • Slow; having little motion; as, a sluggish stream.
  • Having no power to move one's self or itself; inert.
  • Matter, being impotent, sluggish , and inactive, hath no power to stir or move itself . -- Woodward
  • Characteristic of a sluggard; dull; stupid; tame; simple.
  • Exhibiting economic decline, inactivity, slow or subnormal growth.
  • Inflation has been rising despite sluggish economy.

    Quotations

    * So sluggish a conceit . --

    Synonyms

    * See also * See also

    Derived terms

    * sluggishness

    lethargic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * lethargick (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • sluggish, slow
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter VII , passage=[That cat] hasn't caught a mouse since he was a slip of a kitten. Except when eating, he does nothing but sleep. Lethargic is the word that springs to the lips. If you cast an eye on him, you will see that he's asleep now.}}
  • indifferent, apathetic
  • Synonyms

    * torpid * lazy * unmoving