Synonyms of dragging

dragging 1 of 2

adjective

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

• leisurely
• slow
• crawling
• creeping
• lagging
• poking
• slowing
• dilatory
• sluggish
• dallying
• laggard
• dillydallying
• poky
• tardy
• dawdling
• unhurried
• snaillike
• languid
• snail-paced
• lingering
• lethargic
• lounging
• ambling
• deliberate
• shuffling
• loitering
• plodding
• loafing
• inert
• inactive
• measured
• strolling
• decelerating
• stalling
• inching
• procrastinating
• tarrying
• heavy-footed
• slow-footed
• filibustering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rushing
• running
• rapid
• flying
• swift
• lightning
• speedy
• racing
• quick
• speeding
• hasty
• breathless
• fast
• rocketing
• bolting
• brisk
• ready
• dizzy
• fleet
• whirlwind
• prompt
• meteoric
• snappy
• hurrying
• expeditious
• whirling
• zipping
• scooting
• scurrying
• scudding
• barreling
• careering
• accelerated
• whisking
• breakneck
• rushed
• warp-speed
• hastened
• hurried
• quickened

dragging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of drag

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

• pulling
• hauling
• tugging
• towing
• lugging
• drawing
• carrying
• heaving
• attracting
• haling
• yanking
• moving
• jerking
• transporting
• conveying
• ferrying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pushing
• driving
• propelling
• shoving
• thrusting

2

as in delaying

to move or act slowly

one of the climbers was beginning to drag

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delaying
• lingering
• crawling
• poking
• strolling
• creeping
• shuffling
• lagging
• playing
• dawdling
• loitering
• stalling
• moping
• falling behind
• diddling
• dropping behind
• hanging fire
• lollygagging
• marking time
• lounging
• tarrying
• dallying
• dillydallying
• staggering
• dragging one's feet
• idling
• taking one's time
• sauntering
• shilly-shallying
• ambling
• inching
• loafing
• fooling around
• fiddling (around)
• trifling
• puttering (around)
• hanging (around or out)
• lolling
• pottering (around)
• decelerating
• messing around
• plodding
• easing
• monkeying (around)
• lumbering
• procrastinating
• slowing (down or up)
• temporizing
• filibustering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tearing
• flying
• running
• ripping
• rushing
• hurrying
• speeding
• racing
• scurrying
• whirling
• hastening
• dashing
• zipping
• whizzing
• scooting
• bolting
• whisking
• coursing
• scudding
• careering
• rocketing
• barreling
• scrambling
• darting
• hurtling
• humping
• running
• stampeding
• hustling
• trotting
• bowling
• galloping
• breezing
• sprinting
• accelerating
• jogging
• quickening
• hotfooting (it)
• speeding (up)
• overtaking
• outrunning
• outpacing
• outstripping
• catching up
• fast-forwarding

3

as in crawling

to move slowly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crawling
• creeping
• shuffling
• poking
• inching
• limping
• slouching
• oozing
• creaking (along)
• snailing
• plodding
• nosing
• trudging
• shambling
• tramping
• lumbering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flying
• speeding
• racing
• floating
• gliding
• sailing
• whizzing
• zipping
• tearing
• hurrying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dragging

Verb

This seems especially true if there are hiccups in correct window measurement or ordering, which can lead to long delays and projects dragging on and on. — Jason Rueger, USA Today, 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

In Pogacar, we are blessed with one of the most aggressive yellow jerseys in history, responsible for dragging cycling from the tactical drudgery of the 2010s. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 July 2026

The plant advances from its tip rather than dragging its entire length forward. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

Now, those same buyers are returning to showrooms and unfortunately dragging a record-high amount of debt into new loans. — Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 25 July 2026

The European Space Agency’s ClearSpace-1, planned for 2029, tackles the harder case by capturing the unprepared, noncooperative Proba-1 satellite and dragging it down to burn up. — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026

Lebanon's top political leadership criticized Hezbollah for dragging the country into another war, but also condemned Israel for its widespread bombing and ground invasion. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

In Harrenhal, Aemond is plagued by nightmares of his (not) dead brother dragging him to hell. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 July 2026