Definition of slownext
1
2
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily we love our bulldog though he's a little slower than our German shepherd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the first half of the movie is slow, but then it gets exciting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slow

2 of 3

verb

slow

3 of 3

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slow distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slow are delay, detain, retard, and slacken. While all these words mean "to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress," slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention.

medication slowed the patient's heart rate

In what contexts can delay take the place of slow?

In some situations, the words delay and slow are roughly equivalent. However, delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

When would detain be a good substitute for slow?

The meanings of detain and slow largely overlap; however, detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

Where would retard be a reasonable alternative to slow?

While in some cases nearly identical to slow, retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

language barriers retarded their progress

When can slacken be used instead of slow?

The synonyms slacken and slow are sometimes interchangeable, but slacken suggests an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slow
Adjective
No matter how good the story, the titles almost universally suffer from glacially slow starts. Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026 After his slow start last season, should the Chiefs be concerned about their veteran kicker? Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
Those cuts have slowed the response, and officials have struggled to communicate with the public clearly in a fast-moving crisis. Dylan Scott, Vox, 27 Aug. 2026 Drive with caution, slow down, and leave extra space between you and other vehicles. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Petoskey Michigan Autumn in Petoskey arrives like a slow-burning sunrise, stretching from late September well into October thanks to the moderating effect of Lake Michigan. Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026 Under the immense weight of the earth, rock salt behaves like a slow-moving plastic. Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow
Adjective
  • At one end sits a cherry-red grand piano, and every afternoon, the young and talented Shefin Mathew plays classic tunes, setting the mood for a leisurely Champagne brunch at the Tea Lounge.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Spending spikes were sharpest in the afternoons and on weekends, while the longest, most leisurely trips happened in the evening.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • America’s Semiquincentennial was celebrated across the country this summer with big, dumb, gluttonous fun.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But the attention on Cunningham’s comments, the contrived outrage over a fictional trans athlete draft and dumb stunts by former NBA players may have helped drive more folks toward watching the league’s games.
    Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The kids were tucked in by his side, still sleepy from staying up the night before watching TV.
    Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bonds are the sleepy corner of the markets, with yields typically moving a few hundredths of a percentage point.
    Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Indeed, Hank hurts lots of people in this action-comedy that doesn’t prove boring for a second but has trouble managing its disparate tones.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ma brings a happy zeal — and an artist’s eye for detail — to creating a sense of wonder, fantasy and futuristic freedom in a world limited by boring, rational constraints.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • One time, the car behind Murillo braked to avoid a collision, but Murillo reversed into the vehicle to cause a crash, prosecutors said.
    Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Be sure to stay alert, and give yourself plenty of braking distance.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • The first is to gain altitude slowly and give yourself time to acclimatize.
    Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Sebalt said funding for plumbing, sewage and enough street light poles for others to move in was sourced in small chunks and much too slowly.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Gap's Old Navy brand saw sluggish sales due to products that failed to land with shoppers — and not a larger macroeconomic issue, CEO Richard Dickson told CNBC at the time.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • For Starbucks, which only recently turned around sluggish sales, the PSL is a chance to focus attention on a signature product.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Far too much coverage of declining trust in science — particularly the anti-vaccine movement — is predicated on the assumption that its adherents are either stupid or crazy.
    Rick Berke, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Dodge Durango Hellcat is the most accessible way to go stupid-fast in a three-row family car thanks to the Escalade V‘s high price tag.
    Byron Hurd, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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