flagging 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of flaggingnext
1
as in sagging

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2
as in weary

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flagging

2 of 4

noun

as in exhaustion

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flagging

3 of 4

verb (1)

present participle of flag
1
as in drooping
to be limp from lack of water or vigor flowers flagging in the summer heat

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2
as in weakening
to lose bodily strength or vigor we flagged as we neared the end of the long mountain trail

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flagging

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of flag
as in waving
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture flagged the cars into the other parking lot

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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 flagging
Adjective
Despite concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could further squeeze a flagging labor market, hiring has picked up in recent months following a miserable 2025 that saw fewer than 200,000 job gains. — ABC News, 11 June 2026 Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street’s board noted that the event began in 1989 as Old Tyme Days and was launched by business owners in an effort to boost the flagging downtown area. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026
Noun
The footnote says that while the locations of some gas lines were marked with painting and flagging, the location of the gas line that was struck by a third-party contractor had not been identified and marked. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 1 July 2026 And how some close to him bristled when asked questions about his authoritarian streak and his departure from organizing, distractions that left the union’s power flagging. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
As investors fret that Netflix‘s viewer-engagement metrics are flagging, the streaming giant reported earnings for the second quarter of 2026 that were in line with Wall Street forecasts. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 July 2026 Soon after his arrest, both Canary Mission and Betar boasted of their role in flagging Khalil’s noncitizen status to the government. — Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flagging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flagging
  1. wilting
  2. weary
  3. exhaustion
  4. drooping
  5. weakening
  6. waving
  7. tired
  8. limping
Adjective
  • Look for wilting flowers and any blooms forming seed pods at their base.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
  • The first sign your peace lily is thirsty will be yellowing and wilting leaves.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Definition of wilting
Adjective
  • The latest data suggests that the path to relief for inflation-weary Americans remains uncertain.
    — Brandy Hadley, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • The impressive lift provided by the thick insoles effectively absorbs impact, so your legs don’t become weary after long hours of walking.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026
Definition of weary
Noun
  • Punch was abandoned by his mother after his birth a year ago Sunday, presumably because of exhaustion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • Rescue teams must also reach the victim and remove them from the water quickly, particularly when exhaustion, cold or rough conditions could make survival more difficult.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
Definition of exhaustion
Verb
  • The two most common causes are ptosis, which is a drooping eyelid caused by weakness of the muscle that lifts the eyelid, and dermatochalasis, which is excess eyelid skin.
    — Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • Why Hydrangeas Droop So Quickly Some types of cut flowers seem to last forever in vases—like coneflowers, cosmos, and zinnias—but hydrangeas usually start drooping quickly.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 6 July 2026
Definition of drooping
Verb
  • Israelis across political and religious lines are worried about the weakening connection with younger Jewish Americans — who, according to a recent AP poll, tend to consider support for Israel less crucial to their Jewish identity than older adults.
    — Giovanna Dell'Orto, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • Today, some civil-society leaders, and even figures inside the establishment itself, fret that the regime’s heavy domestic hand is not only hurting Iranians but also weakening the country’s war effort.
    — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of weakening
Verb
  • Sometimes therapists and family members join the party, and Kaye leads the festivities, waving a diploma up on the bench.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • The sight of the American president descending the long stairs from Air Force One, smiling and waving along the way, became a symbol of American diplomacy.
    — Peter Kastor, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Definition of waving
Adjective
  • One way to discourage the habit would be to keep yourself from becoming overly tired.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 30 July 2026
  • Many of those creators can no longer command the same fees from brands, and more often than not their followers are tired of the same old content.
    — Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 30 July 2026
Definition of tired
Noun
  • While many symptoms overlap between species, Koehler says dogs commonly develop lethargy, fever, limping, stiff or swollen joints, pale gums, bruising, or abnormal bleeding.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026
  • In recent days, young Knicks fans have been made to digest from their dreary Boomer elders heavy doses of old-timey hoops lore, but mainly about the 1970 title series, featuring Willis Reed’s limping, yet noble appearance in Game Seven, his injured leg shot up with painkillers.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
Definition of limping

Browse Nearby Words

flagged
flagging
flagon
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Cite this Entry

“Flagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flagging. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flagging

Nglish: Translation of flagging for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flagging

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