What does "slouch" mean?
A hanging down of the head; a drooping posture; a limp appearance
Slouch
/slaʊt͡ʃ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A hanging down of the head; a drooping posture; a limp appearance
- Grammar: slouch is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: amble, andante, arm, barge.
- Useful contrasts: fastigiate, attitude, carriage.
- Usage evidence: I'm no slouch on the dance floor.
How to use "slouch"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "slouch" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "slouch" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "slouch" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "slouch" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "slouch" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "amble" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "slouch", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A hanging down of the head; a drooping posture; a limp appearance
"He sat with an unenthusiastic slouch."
- 2 a stooping carriage in standing and walking wordnet
- 3 Any depression or hanging down, as of a hat brim.
"The plant hung in a permanent slouch."
- 4 an incompetent person; usually used in negative constructions wordnet
- 5 Someone who is slow to act.
"In any case, Scotland has been no slouch at national invention. The Greek temple to commemorate James Thomson wasn’t the only monument raised by the 11th Earl of Buchan, who was a friend and neighbour of Walter Scott, and as great a romancer in his obsession with ruins, battlements and fancy dress."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 An awkward, heavy, clownish fellow. dated
Verb
- 1 To hang or droop; to adopt a limp posture intransitive
"Do not slouch when playing a flute."
- 2 walk slovenly wordnet
- 3 To walk in a clumsy, lazy manner. intransitive
"I slouched to the fridge to see if there was anything to eat."
- 4 assume a drooping posture or carriage wordnet
- 5 To cause to hang down or droop; to depress. transitive
"[…] then he slouched his head down on the table and pretended to sleep."
Antonyms
Example
"I'm no slouch on the dance floor."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "slouch"?
Common synonyms include: amble, andante, arm, barge, bay, bayou.
How do you use "slouch" in a sentence?
I'm no slouch on the dance floor.
How do you pronounce "slouch"?
Pronounced /slaʊt͡ʃ/.
Etymology
Unclear. Perhaps from Middle English slugge, from Old Norse slókr (“lazy fellow”). See also Swedish sloka (“to slouch, wilt”), related to Swedish slak (“slack, soft and flexible”) and Latin laxus (“loose, slack”).