What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
stagnant
Example
The pond water was stagnant and smelled bad. [stagnant: adjective]
Example
The company's sales have been stagnant for the past year. [stagnant: adjective]
sluggish
Example
The turtle moved in a sluggish manner across the road. [sluggish: adjective]
Example
I feel sluggish today and don't want to do anything. [sluggish: adjective]
Example
The computer was running sluggish and took forever to load. [sluggish: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sluggish is more commonly used than stagnant in everyday language, especially in informal speech. Stagnant is more commonly used in formal writing, particularly in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between stagnant and sluggish?
Stagnant is generally considered more formal than sluggish, which is more commonly used in informal speech. However, both words can be used in formal and informal contexts depending on the situation.
