Synonyms of lag

lag 1 of 3

verb

1

as in to fade

to lose bodily strength or vigor

during the fourth quarter the whole team seemed to lag

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fade
• sag
• weaken
• go
• sink
• fail
• decay
• waste (away)
• droop
• languish
• wilt
• deteriorate
• wither
• flag
• emaciate
• wear out
• break down
• rot
• yield
• run down
• degenerate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• rebound
• rally
• recuperate
• gain
• convalesce

2

as in to delay

to move or act slowly

the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delay
• linger
• drag
• crawl
• poke
• creep
• play
• mark time
• dawdle
• loiter
• stroll
• fall behind
• hang fire
• drop behind
• stall
• mope
• shuffle
• tarry
• diddle
• lollygag
• idle
• lounge
• dillydally
• stagger
• shilly-shally
• dally
• take one's time
• drag one's feet
• trifle
• fool around
• fiddle (around)
• hang (around or out)
• potter (around)
• decelerate
• slow (down or up)
• putter (around)
• mess around
• amble
• loaf
• monkey (around)
• saunter
• inch
• ease
• procrastinate
• loll
• temporize
• lumber
• plod
• filibuster

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• speed
• race
• rush
• course
• rocket
• hurry
• fly
• run
• tear
• career
• hasten
• bolt
• dash
• breeze
• rip
• barrel
• scurry
• whirl
• whisk
• scoot
• zip
• hustle
• dart
• hump
• stampede
• scramble
• run
• hurtle
• accelerate
• whiz
• sprint
• gallop
• jog
• scud
• speed (up)
• trot
• hotfoot (it)
• quicken
• catch up
• bowl
• overtake
• outrun
• outpace
• outstrip
• fast-forward

lag

2 of 3

adjective

as in final

following all others of the same kind in order or time

we're now in the lag end of the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• final
• latest
• last
• closing
• latter
• concluding
• lowest
• terminal
• ultimate
• terminating
• rearmost
• penultimate
• ensuing
• eventual
• consequent
• farthest
• following
• hindmost
• succeeding
• bottommost
• crowning
• conclusive
• decisive
• extreme
• remotest
• furthest
• lowermost
• farthermost
• definitive
• furthermost
• outermost
• nethermost
• utmost
• outmost
• endmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• initial
• first
• beginning
• primary
• starting
• earliest
• pioneer
• original
• opening
• foremost
• maiden
• superior
• headmost
• eminent
• inaugural
• leadoff
• premier

lag

3 of 3

noun

as in slowdown

Related Words

• slowdown
• delay
• hesitation
• setback
• pause
• wait
• holdup
• foot-dragging
• postponement
• deferral
• detention
• deferment
• respite
• holdback
• holding pattern
• detainment
• reprieve

Dissimilar Words

• rush
• haste
• dispatch
• promptness
• promptitude

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lag different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lag are dally, dawdle, delay, loiter, and procrastinate. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

When might dally be a better fit than lag?

Although the words dally and lag have much in common, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When is delay a more appropriate choice than lag?

In some situations, the words delay and lag are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of lag?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows

children dawdling on their way home from school

In what contexts can procrastinate take the place of lag?

While in some cases nearly identical to lag, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lag

Verb

However, federal data shows vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years. —Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026

Illinois has shown modest signs of recent job growth, and the state’s economy also posted solid growth in 2025 — a welcome change after years in which Illinois lagged behind neighboring states and the nation. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Faster speeds mean less lag and smoother use for multiple devices. —Kara McGinley, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025

And some more good news for lovers of the distinctive fusillade produced by the original Impreza rally cars: this one keeps anti-lag, injecting fuel into the turbocharger to keep it spinning off-throttle. —Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 21 June 2022

Noun

The policy change may succeed in cooling off banana prices but such shifts often take place after a lag of several months, Ortega said. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2026

Game 2 is now scheduled for Friday, June 5, a move that not only eliminates the three-night lag between the first two ABC broadcasts, but also wipes out the traditional Sunday G2 tipoff. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026