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

Other Word Forms

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

Penelope slouched down in her seat, held up her program to shield her face, and hoped the show would begin soon.

Read more on Literature

Without a moderately conservative figurehead, young conservatives will continue to slouch toward Munich.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She’s slouched on the couch, singing into a microphone; her brother is huddled over his laptop on the nearby desk.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

You cannot just slouch in off the street on a whim, assuming you have a couple hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Photos on social media showed them slouched on plastic chairs, swathed in plastic bags fogged up by their breath.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• crouch 
• droop 
• loll