as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the lagging pace of work on the project was worrisome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
during the fourth quarter the whole team seemed to lag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lagging
Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
So while America is most likely still a highly desirable place for all kinds of investors, from the average person putting money into a 401(k) to a professional trader, the lagging performance this year is more than your typical year.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025
Layer on infrastructure costs, amortization, new storage mandates, refinery retrofits for changing crude blends and the lagging effects of the LCFS credit.
—Michael Mische, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Reporting is inconsistent and lagging.
—Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Yum's latest earnings report shows Pizza Hut's sales growth lagging that of its other major restaurant chains, such as KFC and Taco Bell.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Several climate scientists forecast that 2027 will be the hottest year on record because of lagging effects of this El Nino, which is expected to peak in the fall or winter.
—Seth Borenstein, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
What exacerbates that risk is the pace of AI adoption, combined with lagging governance.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 June 2026
While some experts are calling for reforms, others point to India lagging in the global AI race.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 June 2026
That store, in a mixed use development on South Coast Highway 101, faced lagging sales and was one of nine to close nationwide as the chain — months shy of its acquisition by Amazon — faced new competition from Walmart and other conventional grocers.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
While Paramount+ has grown steadily and in some ways punched above its weight, the streaming service remains on the second tier, lagging behind Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and HBO Max.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 June 2026
The speed of decision making reflects organizational clarity, trust and strategic alignment better than almost any lagging indicator.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Adjective
The lagging percentage of women film directors last year is a clear sign that the industry is going backward, said Kirsten Schaffer, chief executive of WIF, which advocates for women in Hollywood.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
So while America is most likely still a highly desirable place for all kinds of investors, from the average person putting money into a 401(k) to a professional trader, the lagging performance this year is more than your typical year.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025
Layer on infrastructure costs, amortization, new storage mandates, refinery retrofits for changing crude blends and the lagging effects of the LCFS credit.
—Michael Mische, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Reporting is inconsistent and lagging.
—Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
Between 2020 and 2025, Dodger Stadium had more home runs than any other major league park, although this year’s total is lagging behind last year’s pace.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Yum's latest earnings report shows Pizza Hut's sales growth lagging that of its other major restaurant chains, such as KFC and Taco Bell.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Several climate scientists forecast that 2027 will be the hottest year on record because of lagging effects of this El Nino, which is expected to peak in the fall or winter.
—Seth Borenstein, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
What exacerbates that risk is the pace of AI adoption, combined with lagging governance.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 9 June 2026
While some experts are calling for reforms, others point to India lagging in the global AI race.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 June 2026
That store, in a mixed use development on South Coast Highway 101, faced lagging sales and was one of nine to close nationwide as the chain — months shy of its acquisition by Amazon — faced new competition from Walmart and other conventional grocers.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
While Paramount+ has grown steadily and in some ways punched above its weight, the streaming service remains on the second tier, lagging behind Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and HBO Max.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 June 2026
The speed of decision making reflects organizational clarity, trust and strategic alignment better than almost any lagging indicator.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagging
Adjective
-
The Virgo moon invites you to take a slower pace today.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
The Targaryen civil war has been a bit of a slow burn so far, though both sides of the family have suffered major casualties.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Most El Niño events typically begin forming between March and June, strengthen through summer into fall, and peak between November and January before fading in late winter into spring.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Market expectations have shifted throughout the war, with broad rate cut expectations fading and being replaced by higher-for-longer interest-rate environments across economies.—
Terri Cullen,Chloe Taylor,Garrett Downs,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
And while research shows that exercise supports healthy sleep by regulating body temperature, mood, metabolism and circadian rhythm, Weiner cautions that exercising too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep by delaying sleep onset, shortening sleep duration and lowering overall sleep quality.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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The remaining providers are stretched thin, and patients are traveling farther for care — often delaying prenatal visits or arriving in labor without adequate support.—
Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams,
STAT,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
In 1943, Shalit headed to the University of Illinois and took a leisurely six years to earn his degree.—
Chris Koseluk,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
-
That leisurely pace would lead only to more murder, and more assassinations.—
Wesley Morris,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Yet the extremist group has mobilized its members and media outlets to ramp up criticism of the agreement, heaping pressure on Iranian negotiators who have been attempting to extract concessions from a US administration intent on weakening – and possibly ending – the Islamic Republic.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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After reaching record levels in the 1990s and 2000s, deforestation declined until the 2019-2022 term of then President Jair Bolsonaro, whose government was widely criticized for weakening environmental protections.—
Gabriela Sa Pessoa,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Inventories are unlikely to fully rebuild given the scale of draws in the first half-year and ongoing government stockpiling, the bank said, while lingering geopolitical risk premium would keep a floor under prices.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
-
Southern Living also noted that local tourism officials are encouraging visitors to return to the region, as many businesses remain open and rely on tourism dollars despite lingering perceptions that the area is still closed following Hurricane Helene.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Frustrated by a laggard job market, some young people have started to consider entering the trades.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But one laggard turkey, lazier than the others, took flight just ten paces from Brillat-Savarin.—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
23 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Teachers use it as a behavioral bargaining chip, administrators weigh playtime against sagging test scores and researchers argue over how best to structure the minutes.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
More often, though, Griffin talks about American debt, competitiveness, and sagging productivity.—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagging. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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