slouch

American  

[slouch] / slaʊtʃ /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a drooping carriage

2. informal (usually used in negative constructions) an incompetent or slovenly person

   he's no slouch at football

Other Word Forms

• sloucher
  noun
• slouching
  adjective
• slouchingly
  adverb
• unslouched
  adjective
• unslouching
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of slouch

First recorded in 1505–15; origin uncertain

Explanation

To slouch is to sit or stand with your shoulders hunched. Most people are more likely to slouch when they're tired or bored. You might tend to slouch in math class but sit up straight and tall when your favorite art teacher invites you to enter a piece in an art show. Your math class posture can itself be described as a slouch as well. Yet another meaning of slouch is a person who's lazy or useless — this is actually the word's original definition, from the 1500's. It's thought to be rooted in the Old Norse word slokr, "lazy fellow."

Example Sentences

"Slouch @patsajak could not be more uncharismatic," one person tweeted to the host.

From Fox News • Dec. 4, 2020

In this respect, it resembles most Couch Slouch columns — exquisitely written, extraordinarily unread.

From Washington Post • Feb. 9, 2020

Before going any further, let’s briefly summarize Couch Slouch v.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2019

Anyway, LeBron is the first order of business as Couch Slouch presents our annual incomplete guide to the NBA postseason:

From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2019

"Slouch your pants down a little, boy. You look crazy with your pants all up on your chest like that," he'd joke.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• crouch
• droop
• loll