as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
a mysterious, cloaked figure with a strange, dragging walk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulling
to cause to follow by applying steady force on
the deliveryman dragged the barrels over against the wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
one of the climbers was beginning to drag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in crawling
to move slowly
the play dragged and seemed to take forever to get to its predictable conclusion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dragging
Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
The clip ends with the owner managing to open the door—dragging the golden retriever along with it—as their other pets enter the frame to see them off.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Brussels is facing criticism over dragging its feet in the enforcement of its digital rulebook, especially its investigation into Elon Musk’s X platform.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
The 2024 Sequoia update also copied Windows' ability to snap a window to fill exactly half the screen by dragging its title bar to the side edge—something that's been around since 2009's Windows 7.
—PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
The video, apparently filmed in the living room of the former firefighter’s Fort Worth home by a Ring camera, shows the man dragging a dog over to the sofa.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Sep. 2025
But the point in dragging Vince on my way out the door was to take the heat off of Lauren and Keanu and put it on Morgan and Vince.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2025
Back in 2014, it was rumored that Venice would soon begin charging tourists a hefty $620 fine for dragging their suitcases through the Italian city’s historic alleys and city squares; however, city officials swiftly denied that such a law would be enacted.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2025
There is already palpable anger at Hezbollah for dragging the country into a ruinous war that has killed thousands.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
For Thiago’s second goal midway through the first half, Ouattara ambled back towards his own goal down the centre of the pitch, dragging Shaw and Dorgu with him.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
The clip ends with the owner managing to open the door—dragging the golden retriever along with it—as their other pets enter the frame to see them off.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Brussels is facing criticism over dragging its feet in the enforcement of its digital rulebook, especially its investigation into Elon Musk’s X platform.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
The 2024 Sequoia update also copied Windows' ability to snap a window to fill exactly half the screen by dragging its title bar to the side edge—something that's been around since 2009's Windows 7.
—PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
The video, apparently filmed in the living room of the former firefighter’s Fort Worth home by a Ring camera, shows the man dragging a dog over to the sofa.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Sep. 2025
But the point in dragging Vince on my way out the door was to take the heat off of Lauren and Keanu and put it on Morgan and Vince.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2025
Back in 2014, it was rumored that Venice would soon begin charging tourists a hefty $620 fine for dragging their suitcases through the Italian city’s historic alleys and city squares; however, city officials swiftly denied that such a law would be enacted.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2025
There is already palpable anger at Hezbollah for dragging the country into a ruinous war that has killed thousands.
—Bilal Y. Saab, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dragging
Adjective
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For an extra touch of exclusivity, guests can book private outings on the resort’s 34-foot Hinckley Picnic Boat — ideal for sunset cruises or a leisurely day on the water.—
Angela Caraway-Carlton,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
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From here, enjoy a leisurely drive along iconic Skyline Drive, which winds 101 miles along the park’s ridgeline.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shepp announced that Veal earned the rare Girl Scout Saving Award, an accolade reserved for monumental acts of bravery; Veal, along with her mother, helped save the life of a Sand City Beach fisherman who lost his footing and collapsed, pulling him ashore.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
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The profile image on the chat features a behind-the-scenes snapshot of Bailey with his on-screen brothers Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton) and Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton) pulling silly faces.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The federal government shut down Wednesday, delaying pay for federal workers (of whom there are 25,000 in Indiana), placing question marks on the financial health of federal aid programs like SNAP and WIC, and causing mass confusion and limbo in immigration court.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
3 Oct. 2025
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Staffing challenges – either at the local level, at the federal level or both – also could play a significant role in delaying interactions between the CDC and local health departments.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For a child who’s crawling or walking, a mat with pop-up walls or fencing can keep your little one safe and contained.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
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Waking up an hour earlier than expected and being hosed with mountain runoff water while crawling in the pool tested my resilience and determination.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The episodes feel choppy, hardly letting anything land, yet still feeling slow.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
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The crowd, quietening into a slow clap with the moment building, burst into a celebration.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That included branding civil rights advocacy and speech defamatory, a breach of the peace, or hate speech, and hauling activists into courts and jails.—
Time,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
-
For families, the villas are also pre-stocked with bulky-but-essential items like a highchair and Pack-n-Play, so there’s no need to overpack or deal with the unnecessary hassle of hauling these supplies with you.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first meetup drew dozens of participants poking at pudding cups together.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
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The underground pop of the 2010s used to get so excited about being online, using shrinky-dink artifice to delight in poking fun at a culture that could feel shallow and strange but also organic and endlessly renewable.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The latest forecast shows Imelda creeping along Florida’s coast for the next few days — a slowdown from Saturday’s forecast.—
Alex Harris
Updated September 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
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First, during this same time, genre elements, and specifically dark speculative elements, were creeping into all fiction.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dragging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dragging. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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