1
as in pulls
to cause to follow by applying steady force on
the deliveryman dragged the barrels over against the wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lingers
to move or act slowly
one of the climbers was beginning to drag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in crawls
to move slowly
the play dragged and seemed to take forever to get to its predictable conclusion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in streets
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
the main drag in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the drag of stagnating wages on bringing the economy out of the recession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in crabs
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drags
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
The defensive coordinator search drags on.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The dog keeps attacking the woman and drags her to the ground.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
This not-quite-title song, which is nearly eight minutes long, is a sort of mini-suite, opening with a dog barking, giving way to an acoustic-guitar melody accompanying polyphonic vocals, then becoming electric and crashingly alive, until the relentless screech of a guitar drags you to the end.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
As China's consumer slump drags on, the warehouse clubs that offer quality goods at reasonable prices, and provide a store experience that online competitors can't easily rival, are emerging as rare bright spots in the sector.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
This results in fewer workers supporting more retirees—which drags on growth, strains pensions and health care, and hampers long-term innovation and fiscal stability.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Connor, one is when Ilya drags the chair across the room in episode 2.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
New Atlas, 3 Dec. 2025
Germany and Italy were drags on the growth rate, however, as both countries' economies stalled.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
There are no serious drags anymore.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Another hot, humid half hour of window-shopping drags by.
—R29 Team, Refinery29, 19 Sep. 2025
Poor governance, misguided acquisitions, or self-serving buybacks are structural drags.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
Steer clear of clothing that drags on the floor.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2026
The defensive coordinator search drags on.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The dog keeps attacking the woman and drags her to the ground.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
This not-quite-title song, which is nearly eight minutes long, is a sort of mini-suite, opening with a dog barking, giving way to an acoustic-guitar melody accompanying polyphonic vocals, then becoming electric and crashingly alive, until the relentless screech of a guitar drags you to the end.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
As China's consumer slump drags on, the warehouse clubs that offer quality goods at reasonable prices, and provide a store experience that online competitors can't easily rival, are emerging as rare bright spots in the sector.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
This results in fewer workers supporting more retirees—which drags on growth, strains pensions and health care, and hampers long-term innovation and fiscal stability.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Connor, one is when Ilya drags the chair across the room in episode 2.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
Clear tail drags are extremely rare in the fossil record and often disputed, because of how open to interpretation partial marks are – unlike here.
—New Atlas, 3 Dec. 2025
Germany and Italy were drags on the growth rate, however, as both countries' economies stalled.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
There are no serious drags anymore.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Another hot, humid half hour of window-shopping drags by.
—R29 Team, Refinery29, 19 Sep. 2025
Poor governance, misguided acquisitions, or self-serving buybacks are structural drags.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drags
Verb
-
Ariana Grande pulls Teyana Taylor in for a tight squeeze after the latter won her award.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Joining Watkins for the sit-down with Deadline, Nurse John pulls back the curtain on his experience of his stratospheric rise, reflecting on the emotional impact of sudden viral visibility and the practical mechanics of turning internet attention into a sustainable live business.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Often, the significance of things lingers just beyond grasp, with events appearing both arbitrary and ordained.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The question lingers in Fields & Phantoms, where figures appear mid-journey, carrying something unseen but heavy nonetheless.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Since the holidays, many of us have spent winter days cooped up inside, shuttling between work, school and home while the calendar crawls toward spring.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In Elf, while Santa (the late Ed Asner) is setting out toys at an orphanage on Christmas Eve, Buddy (Will Ferrell) crawls into his sack.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Her books were their progeny, Stein acknowledged, and without Alice’s mothering—and typing, proofreading, cooking, sewing, shopping, bookkeeping, and warding off bores—they might not have been born.—
Judith Thurman,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Anyone who thinks English Heritage sites are run by bores is in for a surprise.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Their midweight thickness offers enough cushion for miles of walking through the streets of New York City, without causing sweat.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This tragedy is the result of the administration sending federal agents onto our streets against the wishes of local law enforcement, including our respected Police Chief Brian O'Hara.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Institutions were obstacles to be blamed or bypassed.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Ladders can help fish circumvent these obstacles, but learning to navigate them can take the animals days.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Read on to find out why these sips are increasingly sought-after, then stick around for a recipe that’s a breeze to shake up at home.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Helen sips from her cup, weighing her words.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On top of this lobster heist that’s grabbing headlines, a load of crabs being shipped from a cold storage facility in Massachusetts also went missing on December 2, The Boston Globe reported.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
31 Dec. 2025
-
The divers found a swath of ocean populated by weird and wild creatures, from delicate corals and shimmering worms to spiky sea slugs and hairy crabs.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
19 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drags. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
