Synonyms of drag

drag 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to pull

to cause to follow by applying steady force on

the deliveryman dragged the barrels over against the wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pull
• haul
• tug
• draw
• tow
• lug
• carry
• attract
• move
• heave
• hale
• yank
• transport
• jerk
• convey
• ferry

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• push
• drive
• thrust
• propel
• shove

2

as in to delay

to move or act slowly

one of the climbers was beginning to drag

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delay
• crawl
• linger
• poke
• creep
• stroll
• play
• shuffle
• lag
• loiter
• fall behind
• dawdle
• hang fire
• mark time
• stall
• drop behind
• diddle
• mope
• lollygag
• lounge
• tarry
• stagger
• dillydally
• idle
• drag one's feet
• take one's time
• dally
• shilly-shally
• saunter
• fool around
• fiddle (around)
• amble
• decelerate
• trifle
• ease
• putter (around)
• mess around
• potter (around)
• hang (around or out)
• monkey (around)
• loaf
• slow (down or up)
• inch
• temporize
• loll
• procrastinate
• plod
• lumber
• filibuster

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fly
• run
• tear
• race
• rip
• speed
• hurry
• rush
• hasten
• course
• scoot
• career
• rocket
• scurry
• whisk
• breeze
• dash
• bolt
• zip
• whirl
• barrel
• run
• scramble
• dart
• hump
• hustle
• hurtle
• accelerate
• jog
• stampede
• trot
• gallop
• whiz
• sprint
• scud
• speed (up)
• hotfoot (it)
• quicken
• outrun
• overtake
• catch up
• bowl
• outpace
• outstrip
• fast-forward

3

as in to crawl

to move slowly

the play dragged and seemed to take forever to get to its predictable conclusion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crawl
• creep
• shuffle
• poke
• snail
• limp
• inch
• ooze
• slouch
• nose
• plod
• creak (along)
• trudge
• tramp
• shamble
• lumber

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• race
• fly
• speed
• float
• glide
• sail
• zip
• tear
• whiz
• hurry

drag

2 of 2

noun

ˈdrag 

1

as in bore

someone or something boring

that lecture was such a drag that half of the audience fell asleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bore
• drip
• yawn
• snooze
• dullsville
• snoozer
• yawner
• droner
• downer
• nudnik
• bromide
• pill
• bummer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rush
• blast
• gas
• kick
• upper

2

as in street

a passage cleared for public vehicular travel

the main drag in town

Synonyms & Similar Words

• street
• road
• highway
• freeway
• thoroughfare
• route
• expressway
• drive
• boulevard
• roadway
• carriageway
• arterial
• way
• artery
• turnpike
• causeway
• pass
• interstate
• pike
• row
• avenue
• lane
• trace
• thruway
• high road
• motorway
• bypass
• parkway
• track
• trail
• corridor
• alley
• autobahn
• superhighway
• close
• circle
• ring road
• switchback
• beltway
• dual carriageway
• dead end
• Main Street
• alleyway
• branch
• place
• side road
• through street
• crossroad
• side street
• byway
• corniche
• high street
• secondary road
• shunpike
• autostrada
• autoroute
• laneway
• backstreet
• mews
• cul-de-sac
• bystreet

3

as in obstacle

something that makes movement or progress difficult

the drag of stagnating wages on bringing the economy out of the recession

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obstacle
• hurdle
• let
• embarrassment
• obstruction
• burden
• barrier
• interference
• load
• hindrance
• chain
• stop
• impediment
• shackles
• encumbrance
• block
• handicap
• inhibition
• stumbling block
• hitch
• deterrent
• cramp
• clog
• bar
• constraint
• crimp
• brake
• trammel
• rub
• balk
• catch
• delay
• curb
• manacle
• snag
• disadvantage
• holdback
• rein
• fetter
• danger
• arrest
• blockade
• stone wall
• stall
• restraint
• hobble
• hazard
• blockage
• bit
• embargo
• brick wall
• stoppage
• difficulty
• hardship
• check
• drawback
• reef
• peril
• holdup
• cumber
• adversity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incentive
• catalyst
• stimulus
• impetus
• spur
• advantage
• edge
• break
• goad
• assistance
• benefit
• help
• aid
• stimulant
• boost
• handmaiden

4

as in sip

the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time

took a deep drag of tequila before speaking his piece

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sip
• drink
• gulp
• swallow
• drop
• slug
• belt
• sup
• draft
• snort
• nip
• swig
• shot
• swill
• quaff
• dram

5

as in crab

a person who spoils the pleasure of others

the teenager was mortified to be seen in public with such drags—her parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bore
• crab
• wet blanket
• party pooper
• killjoy
• spoilsport
• drip
• grinch
• cynic
• complainer
• old maid
• stick-in-the-mud
• knocker
• fuddy-duddy
• defeatist
• grump
• Jeremiah
• sorehead
• sourpuss
• downer
• goody-goody
• pessimist
• whiner
• Goody Two-shoes
• grouch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• live wire
• jester
• rake
• cutup
• celebrant
• roisterer
• playboy
• carouser
• reveler
• libertine
• celebrator
• merrymaker
• rejoicer
• playgirl

6

as in costume

clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation

they attended the Renaissance fair in medieval drag

Synonyms & Similar Words

• costume
• clothes
• dress
• attire
• garb
• getup
• outfit
• togs
• guise
• apparel
• mode
• style
• duds
• raiment
• habiliment(s)
• fashion
• vestments
• array
• caparison

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drag

Verb

Jessie Hatfield ran to seek help from the police, while Sallie Chambers struck one of the agents with her umbrella and had to be dragged away. — Elijah Tanall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

At Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz County, a lifeguard was captured on video dragging a boy out of the water in a harrowing rescue. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Noun

When not excavating and eating Rosenthal’s bread and cheese, the men rehearse for a musical comedy performance featuring a chorus line of men in drag. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026

The bill comes in response to incidents like one in April where one youth was arrested for taking part in a wild drag racing takeover of a Queens neighborhood. — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026

Phrases Containing drag

• drag (out)
• drag one's feet
• drag one's heels