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
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Recent Examples of dragging
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Gomes Akay was seen two days later dragging a large suitcase from the hotel.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the frozen hiring market appears to be dragging on wages.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Midi-length dresses naturally hit shorter on petite frames, so what's designed as a midi often functions more like a maxi—ideal if you've been burned by dragging hemlines before.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday morning, three of Wall Street's biggest banks, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Bank of America, all downgraded the stock, citing the dragging turnaround, growing headwinds and dwindling patience.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
But right now, while the press is still bad and the lawsuits are still dragging, sellers should take a breath.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Mar. 2026
My previous shoots had involved haphazardly dragging equipment across town, stopping every few feet to pant.
—Lena Dunham, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Wipe the blade with a lint-free cloth after each pass to avoid dragging dirty water back across the glass.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 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, 4 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the frozen hiring market appears to be dragging on wages.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Midi-length dresses naturally hit shorter on petite frames, so what's designed as a midi often functions more like a maxi—ideal if you've been burned by dragging hemlines before.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday morning, three of Wall Street's biggest banks, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Bank of America, all downgraded the stock, citing the dragging turnaround, growing headwinds and dwindling patience.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
But right now, while the press is still bad and the lawsuits are still dragging, sellers should take a breath.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Mar. 2026
My previous shoots had involved haphazardly dragging equipment across town, stopping every few feet to pant.
—Lena Dunham, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Wipe the blade with a lint-free cloth after each pass to avoid dragging dirty water back across the glass.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dragging
Adjective
-
Many Parisian restaurants are relatively small, so tables fill up quickly and stay filled because dining is a leisurely event, with tables turning over less frequently.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
By the 1950s Madras print in the United States had become a popular style for Ivy League students, gentleman’s business attire, and leisurely vacation wear.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 2018 Hands-Free Georgia Act, which effectively banned drivers from holding phones, made pulling drivers over easier.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Saturday, and a good Samaritan is credited with pulling the three survivors out of the inlet, the USCG told The Charlotte Observer.—
Mark Price
April 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 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
Verb
-
The town was crawling with boy band members, Mickey Mouse Clubbers and future Disney Channel stars.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
-
An 18-month-old child sustained minor injuries after crawling under a fence at Zoo America in Pennsylvania and approaching a wolf enclosure.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, businesses hired workers at their slowest pace since 2011, excluding the onset of the pandemic in 2020.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The area’s large tourist population contributes a constant volume of unfamiliar drivers to already heavily congested roads, with traffic patterns that shift significantly between peak tourist season and the summer months but never truly slow to manageable levels on the area’s major corridors.—
Anton Lucanus
April 3,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The sheriff's office said that the timber-hauling truck was in compliance with all safety measures regarding its cargo, and no criminal or civil charges were anticipated.—
April 3,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The image below shows the SLS freeing itself of Earth, hauling the Artemis 2 mission to the darkening skies above Florida.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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
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
“Dragging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dragging. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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