Slow vs. Tardy — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Slow and Tardy
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Definitions
Slow
Not moving or able to move quickly; proceeding at a low speed
A slow train.
Slow walkers.
Tardy
Delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late
Please forgive this tardy reply
Slow
Marked by a retarded tempo
A slow waltz.
Tardy
Occurring, arriving, acting, or done after the scheduled, expected, or usual time; late.
Slow
Taking or requiring a long time
The slow job of making bread.
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Tardy
Moving or progressing slowly; sluggish
Walking at a tardy pace.
Slow
Taking more time than is usual
A slow worker.
Slow progress in the peace negotiations.
Tardy
Late; overdue or delayed.
He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth.
Slow
Allowing movement or action only at a low speed
A slow track.
A slow infield.
Tardy
Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.
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Slow
Registering a time or rate behind or below the correct one
A slow clock.
Tardy
Ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dull.
His tardy performance bordered on incompetence.
Slow
Lacking in promptness or willingness; not precipitate
They were slow to accept our invitation.
Tardy
(obsolete) Unwary; unready (especially in the phrase take (someone) tardy).
Slow
Characterized by a low volume of sales or transactions
Business was slow today.
Tardy
(obsolete) Criminal; guilty.
Slow
Lacking liveliness or interest; boring
A slow party.
Tardy
(US) A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.
The teacher gave her a tardy because she did not come into the classroom until after the bell.
Slow
Not having or exhibiting intellectual or mental quickness
A slow learner.
Tardy
(US) An instance of a student's being marked as tardy by a teacher on the teacher's attendance sheet.
Slow
Only moderately warm; low
A slow oven.
Tardy
To make tardy.
Slow
So as to fall behind the correct time or rate
The watch runs slow.
Tardy
Moving with a slow pace or motion; slow; not swift.
And check the tardy flight of time.
Tardy to vengeance, and with mercy brave.
Slow
At a low speed
Go slow!.
Tardy
Not being inseason; late; dilatory; - opposed to prompt; as, to be tardy in one's payments.
The tardy plants in our cold orchards placed.
Slow
To make slow or slower.
Tardy
Unwary; unready.
Slow
To delay; retard.
Tardy
Criminal; guilty.
Slow
To become slow or slower.
Tardy
To make tardy.
Slow
Taking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed.
A slow train;
A slow computer
Tardy
After the expected or usual time; delayed;
A belated birthday card
I'm late for the plane
The train is late
Tardy children are sent to the principal
Always tardy in making dental appointments
Slow
Not happening in a short time; spread over a comparatively long time.
Slow
Of reduced intellectual capacity; not quick to comprehend.
Slow
Not hasty; not tending to hurry; acting with deliberation or caution.
Slow
(of a clock or the like) Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time.
That clock is slow.
Slow
Lacking spirit; deficient in liveliness or briskness.
Slow
(of a period of time) Not busy; lacking activity.
It was a slow news day, so the editor asked us to make our articles wordier.
I'm just sitting here with a desk of cards, enjoying a slow afternoon.
Slow
(transitive) To make (something) run, move, etc. less quickly; to reduce the speed of.
Slow the process
Slow
(transitive) To keep from going quickly; to hinder the progress of.
Slow the traffic
Slow
(intransitive) To become slow; to slacken in speed; to decelerate.
Slow
Someone who is slow; a sluggard.
Slow
(music) A slow song.
Slow
Slowly.
That clock is running slow.
I want to dance with you nice and slow
Slow
Slew.
Slow
Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.
Slow
Not happening in a short time; gradual; late.
These changes in the heavens, though slow, producedLike change on sea and land, sidereal blast.
Slow
Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue.
Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slowTo guard their shore from an expected foe.
Slow
Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.
Slow
Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.
Slow
Not advancing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.
Slow
Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull.
Slow
Slowly.
Let him have time to mark how slow time goesIn time of sorrow.
Slow
To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer.
Slow
To go slower; - often with up; as, the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.
Slow
A moth.
Slow
Lose velocity; move more slowly;
The car decelerated
Slow
Become slow or slower;
Production slowed
Slow
Cause to proceed more slowly;
The illness slowed him down
Slow
Not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time;
A slow walker
The slow lane of traffic
Her steps were slow
He was slow in reacting to the news
Slow but steady growth
Slow
At a slow tempo;
The band played a slow waltz
Slow
Slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity;
So dense he never understands anything I say to him
Never met anyone quite so dim
Although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick
Dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
He was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
Worked with the slow students
Slow
(used of timepieces) indicating a time earlier than the correct time;
The clock is slow
Slow
So lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness;
A boring evening with uninteresting people
The deadening effect of some routine tasks
A dull play
His competent but dull performance
A ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention
What an irksome task the writing of long letters is
Tedious days on the train
The tiresome chirping of a cricket
Other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome
Slow
(of business) not active or brisk;
Business is dull (or slow)
A sluggish market
Slow
Without speed (`slow' is sometimes used informally for `slowly');
He spoke slowly
Go easy here--the road is slippery
Glaciers move tardily
Please go slow so I can see the sights
Slow
Of timepieces;
The clock is almost an hour slow
My watch is running behind
