as in residual
still existing or happening after something is completed or removed
The area is still feeling the lingering effects of the hurricane. There are lingering questions about the extent of his involvement in the crime.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lingering
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
The children are now in the fourth grade, but Thompson believes their friend’s death has had a lingering impact on their lives.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
At the time, Kansas City police chief and former FBI agent Lear Reed was on a campaign to clean up the police force and remove the lingering influences of Pendergast.
—Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
Tong joined 16 other state attorneys general who name-checked this legislation as a way to address some lingering issues.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
However, state lawmakers and doctors who work at the hospital have lingering doubts that the owner can pull it off.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Warren Buffett offered a measured but cautionary read on markets in his first public comments since stepping back from the chief executive role at Berkshire Hathaway , warning of lingering fragility in the banking system while downplaying the significance of recent volatility.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
The ship's lunar loo malfunctioned following liftoff and has remained a lingering issue.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Another crest, perhaps as high as those in late March, could come within the next week or so, depending on snowmelt and lingering storms.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Verb
Just the check, the soft clatter of plates and that lingering smell of basil and coconut that follows you out the door.
—Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
The children are now in the fourth grade, but Thompson believes their friend’s death has had a lingering impact on their lives.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
At the time, Kansas City police chief and former FBI agent Lear Reed was on a campaign to clean up the police force and remove the lingering influences of Pendergast.
—Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
Tong joined 16 other state attorneys general who name-checked this legislation as a way to address some lingering issues.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
However, state lawmakers and doctors who work at the hospital have lingering doubts that the owner can pull it off.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Warren Buffett offered a measured but cautionary read on markets in his first public comments since stepping back from the chief executive role at Berkshire Hathaway , warning of lingering fragility in the banking system while downplaying the significance of recent volatility.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
The ship's lunar loo malfunctioned following liftoff and has remained a lingering issue.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Another crest, perhaps as high as those in late March, could come within the next week or so, depending on snowmelt and lingering storms.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingering
Adjective
-
Both writers and actors went out on strike, one issue being the lack of substantial residual compensation when their work played on streamers.—
Jennifer Silverman,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The more resilient the regime—and its resilience is remarkable—the more Iran would have to be devastated to avoid leaving residual capability intact.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Are clients delaying decisions on big investments?—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Others called it a performative move that contrasts with the EPA’s recent regulatory actions, including a rollback of mercury emissions standards, rescinding drinking water limits for certain PFAS and delaying Biden-era restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Families would leave lights in windows or over doors during battles, such as Verdun, as a sign of hope and remembrance — a tradition that later became a lasting tribute to France’s sacrifice and alliance.—
David Caraccio
April 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
New York For All would ensure that state and local resources are not used to carry out federal immigration enforcement, close loopholes that allow ICE to glean information from state databases and establish lasting protections for immigrant communities.—
Peter Cook,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two days later, Gomes Akay was seen dragging a large suitcase that appeared to be overfilled from the hotel.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Gomes Akay was seen two days later dragging a large suitcase from the hotel.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Upon the umpteenth retelling, Jules (Jeff Wilbusch)—who witnessed the gory death of Rachel’s mother (Victoria Pedretti) as a little boy and therefore wholeheartedly believes in the curse—begins poking holes in the story.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
2 Apr. 2026
-
While the 1930s and 1940s did see some instances of carnival poking fun at the tyranny of the Nazi regime (none of which, it should be noted, went unpunished), Birdsall and other scholars maintain that the festival was, first and foremost, an avenue for propaganda.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Until Isaacman’s program makeover, Artemis III was crawling toward a moon landing no sooner than 2029.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
One provider recommended a different formula, but Laura responded that her son was burning calories by kicking in his bed, crawling and wheeling around in his wheelchair.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Scientists knew it was triggered by the real world creeping in, but the exact microscopic cause remained out of reach.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Apr. 2026
-
There are few things more on trend than grass-alternative lawns right now; between wanting something lower maintenance and lower cost, different options like clover, chamomile, and creeping thyme are looking much more appealing to the average homeowner.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingering. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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