slouch

[ slouch ]

verb (used without object)

1. to sit or stand with an awkward, drooping posture.
2. to move or walk with loosely drooping body and careless gait.
3. to have a droop or downward bend, as a hat.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to droop or bend down, as the shoulders or a hat.

noun

1. a drooping or bending forward of the head and shoulders; an awkward, drooping posture or carriage.
2. an awkward, clumsy, or slovenly person.
3. slouch hat.
4. a lazy, inept, or inefficient person.

   Synonyms: sluggard, loafer, laggard

slouch

/ slaʊtʃ /

verb

1. intr to sit or stand with a drooping bearing
2. intr to walk or move with an awkward slovenly gait
3. tr to cause (the shoulders) to droop

noun

1. a drooping carriage
2. informal.
   usually used in negative constructions an incompetent or slovenly person

   he's no slouch at football

Derived Forms

• ˈslouchingly, adverb
• ˈslouching, adjective
• ˈsloucher, noun

Other Words From

• sloucher noun
• slouching·ly adverb
• un·slouched adjective
• un·slouching adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slouch¹

First recorded in 1505–15; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of slouch¹

C16: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The 10th generation processor is no slouch for gaming, but won’t do much for streaming.

From Popular-Science

Claxton is no slouch as a screen-and-roll man himself on the other end of the floor.

From FiveThirtyEight

Wyoming is no slouch when it comes to good looks, and the 68-mile Beartooth Highway showcases some of the most epic snapshots of the state’s mountainous scenery, ending at the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

From Outside Online

Mayfield was no slouch, either, completing 10 of 15 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

From Washington Post

All brands and businesses have had to respond quickly to changes wrought by the coronavirus crisis, and retailers have been no slouches in the adaptive innovation department.

From Digiday

The rest of the country is no slouch when it comes to solar, either.

From The Daily Beast

Feinstein, no slouch himself in the wunderkind department, began his career at the age of 20, working for Ira Gershwin.

From The Daily Beast

And the veteran comedy writer, 52, is no slouch when it comes to getting laughs.

From The Daily Beast

Gordon, mohawked and heavily tattooed, is no slouch, either.

From The Daily Beast

I slouch back in my office chair, breathe deeply, and stare up at the ceiling trying to regain my composure.

From The Daily Beast

The Mexican immediately pulled off his ragged slouch-hat and his tattered coat.

From Project Gutenberg

His hat was laying on the floor—an old black slouch with the top caved in, like a lid.

From Project Gutenberg

He pictured Maizie as wearing overalls, a man's shirt with the tail out, a big slouch hat, and buckskin gloves.

From Project Gutenberg

And all the time he was a-doing it he tried to talk like an Englishman; and he done it pretty well, too, for a slouch.

From Project Gutenberg

"I will, dad," she said, and tenderly she watched his great figure slouch out of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crouch
• droop
• loll