sluggard
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for sluggard, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A lazy person who is slow to get started on work that needs doing.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
idler
layabout
Antonyms
How to use sluggard
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a lazy sluggard
call someone a sluggard
act like a sluggard
Sluggard sounds old-fashioned and is mostly used in a disapproving, half-joking way rather than in ordinary conversation.
Etymology
Sluggard developed from Middle English slogarde, a word thought to trace back to an Old Norse root. It is built from slug with the suffix -ard, which turns a quality into an insulting label for a person.
Full origin of sluggard →Frequently asked questions
What does sluggard mean?
A sluggard is a lazy person, especially one who is slow to begin work they should be getting on with.
Where does the word sluggard come from?
It comes from Middle English slogarde, likely rooted in Old Norse, formed from slug plus the insulting suffix -ard.
Is sluggard an insult?
Yes, it is a disapproving word used to criticise someone for laziness or habitual idleness.
