as in delay
failure to do something quickly because you do not want to do it
bureaucrats criticized for foot-dragging on important issues
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 foot-dragging
The seeming foot-dragging from Treasury seems at odds with the Trump administration’s overall agenda related to Venezuela and revitalizing its energy sector.
—
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2026
There is a famed story about Campos, eyeing the boys foot-dragging, taking them out back and teaching them how to march.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
Europe could be a natural partner to fill the gap, but the E.U. remains divided and slow in its engagement with Latin America—a fact symbolized by the foot-dragging on the E.U.-Mercosur trade deal, which may finally pass next week.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
The mediation session scheduled Monday in downtown Los Angeles stems from an evidentiary hearing that began last month to determine whether the city should be held in contempt for alleged foot-dragging in meeting its obligations under the agreement with the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 Dec. 2025
While progress has been made, the bloc is still impeded by both energy needs and foot-dragging member states.
—Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Nov. 2025
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2026
There is a famed story about Campos, eyeing the boys foot-dragging, taking them out back and teaching them how to march.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
Europe could be a natural partner to fill the gap, but the E.U. remains divided and slow in its engagement with Latin America—a fact symbolized by the foot-dragging on the E.U.-Mercosur trade deal, which may finally pass next week.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
The mediation session scheduled Monday in downtown Los Angeles stems from an evidentiary hearing that began last month to determine whether the city should be held in contempt for alleged foot-dragging in meeting its obligations under the agreement with the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 Dec. 2025
While progress has been made, the bloc is still impeded by both energy needs and foot-dragging member states.
—Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foot-dragging
delay
Noun
-
Heidi Vonblum, the city’s planning director, said the delay will allow the city to help neighborhoods that have suffered from past city zoning practices, including zoning based on race or ethnicity.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Gas prices, which tend to follow moves in oil with a delay, were slightly higher on May 7.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foot-dragging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foot-dragging. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
