のろい・鈍いnoroi[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectivethickheaded; obtuse; stupid
2. i-adjectiveslow; sluggish; inert; lethargic
   大おおきくて、のろくて、無口むくちでした。↗

   He was big and slow and silent.
3. i-adjectiveindulgent (esp. to the opposite sex); doting

• SynonymのろまCasualColloquial noun for a slow, dim person; 「鈍い（のろい）」 is an adjective.
• SynonymスローNeutralLoanword for slow speed; 「のろい」 is derogatory.
• Synonym緩慢かんまんWrittenWritten: slow in movement; 「のろい」 is colloquial and derogatory.
• Synonym鈍どんWrittenWritten, mostly as a word element, as in 「鈍感」 and 「鈍器」; rarely used alone.
• SynonymどんくさいCasualColloquial: clumsy and slow to react; 「のろい」 focuses on slowness of speed.
• Synonym鈍臭いのろくさいCasualDuplicate of the previous entry 「鈍くさい」: clumsy and slow to react.
• SynonymとろいCasualColloquial: slow in movement or thinking; close to 「のろい」.
• Synonym愚鈍ぐどんWrittenWritten: dull-witted; 「のろい」 focuses on slow movement.
• Synonym遅鈍ちどんWrittenWritten: slow to react; in everyday speech say 「のろい」 or 「鈍い」.
• Synonym鈍重どんじゅうWrittenWritten: sluggish and heavy in movement; 「のろい」 is more colloquial.
• Related遅いおそいNeutralThe general word for slow speed or being late; 「のろい」 implies frustrating slowness.
• Related愚図ぐずCasualColloquial noun for a dawdler who cannot make up their mind; 「のろい」 is an adjective.
• Related痴鈍ちどんWrittenWritten and rare: dull-witted; in everyday speech say 「のろい」.
• Related魯鈍ろどんWrittenWritten: dim-witted, strongly derogatory; in everyday speech say 「のろい」.
• Antonym鋭いするどいNeutralAntonym: sharp-witted and quick to react; it opposes 「のろい」 only for a slow mind. For dull senses the opposite is 「鈍い（にぶい）」.
• Antonym敏感びんかんNeutralAntonym: sensitive, quick to notice; its direct opposites are 「鈍感」 and 「鈍い（にぶい）」, touching 「のろい」 only for slow reactions.

Use 「のろい」 for slowness that tries your patience; 「遅い」 is the neutral word for slow. A slow person is 「のろま」 or 「ぐず」; in writing use 「緩慢」 or 「愚鈍」. For speed of movement, the opposite is 「速い」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 動うごきなどが遅おそい様子ようす。