1
as in faded
to lose bodily strength or vigor
during the fourth quarter the whole team seemed to lag
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delayed
to move or act slowly
the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lagged
Now, as early voting kicks off Tuesday in the state’s March 3 primary, campaigns are counting on high-engagement counties to keep up their pace, while pushing for gains in places where participation has lagged.
—
Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Denver’s defense had already lagged a bit after the bye week — the Commanders and Packers each scored 26 points and at times gave the Broncos fits — but Lawrence led one of the few offensive outings that really cracked this group open.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Walmart’s sector peers’ shares have lagged behind until the recent rally.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Technology stocks lagged, pressured after Cisco Systems posted weaker-than-expected margins.
—Benzinga, Freep.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Concern is also growing over how salaries have lagged behind inflation, shriveling in value and squeezing household budgets.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Plano officials estimate the city has spent about $130 million a year in sales tax on DART service, while ridership within the community has lagged.
—Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
In the years since the 2008 financial crisis, homebuilding has lagged, creating a housing shortage that has pushed prices higher as demand far outstrips supply across much of the country.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Texas serves the highest number of pre-K students in the country, but an April 2024 report from the National Institute for Early Education Research shows the state has lagged in updating its quality standards and per-student funding for years.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Denver’s defense had already lagged a bit after the bye week — the Commanders and Packers each scored 26 points and at times gave the Broncos fits — but Lawrence led one of the few offensive outings that really cracked this group open.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Walmart’s sector peers’ shares have lagged behind until the recent rally.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Technology stocks lagged, pressured after Cisco Systems posted weaker-than-expected margins.
—Benzinga, Freep.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Concern is also growing over how salaries have lagged behind inflation, shriveling in value and squeezing household budgets.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Plano officials estimate the city has spent about $130 million a year in sales tax on DART service, while ridership within the community has lagged.
—Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
In the years since the 2008 financial crisis, homebuilding has lagged, creating a housing shortage that has pushed prices higher as demand far outstrips supply across much of the country.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Texas serves the highest number of pre-K students in the country, but an April 2024 report from the National Institute for Early Education Research shows the state has lagged in updating its quality standards and per-student funding for years.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagged
Verb
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One year after their deaths, those closest to Hackman and Arakawa say their legacy is not defined by tragedy, but by devotion — a partnership rooted in privacy, dignity and a love story that endured long after Hollywood faded from view.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The shock that we could be attacked on our own soil by people who infiltrated the country with the purpose of attacking it has faded.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The first hearing for Campillo’s new proposal was delayed from November because the Rules Committee fell short of a quorum before the proposal could be debated.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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Federal agencies halted overdose-surveillance networks, delayed youth smoking data, scaled back food-safety pathogen monitoring and purged transgender health information from websites.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Mutawa, as the religious police are known, had their powers significantly weakened in 2016.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Well, he's weakened the regulations on clean cars.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The crowd of students that had flooded into Klyde Warren Park was gradually dispersing; some returned to the classroom and others lingered around the greenery.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
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The Twin Earth, from Jaio Studios, lingered in the memory with its stylistic animation about the discovery of another, happier Earth.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Monster bamboo, bougainvillea, and banana plants crashed in from the roadside; a tin roof sagged under the weight of a gaggle of marabou storks; baboons plundered trash cans at a highway intersection.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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Since taking over as GameStop's CEO in September 2023, Cohen has dramatically cut costs, improved the retailer's profitability and grown its collectibles business, even as overall sales have sagged.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The beat stood out in part because expectations had been so low after a stalling labor market grew more dire as the year dragged on.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
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During her arrest in December, security forces beat the activist repeatedly and dragged her by the hair, tearing sections of her scalp, and continued to beat her in the transport vehicle, the Nobel Committee said in a statement issued earlier Wednesday.—
Jomana Karadsheh,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Days after Guthrie went missing, TMZ was among the first to report on an initial note demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for her safe return.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Mathurin, acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, was 12 for 22 from the field, while Leonard went eight for 18 and scored at least 20 points for the 34th consecutive game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One live roach crawled on the floor in front of a storage rack with seasoning and cans.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
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Maybe the girl had crawled under a neighbor's trailer while playing hide-and-seek.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lagged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagged. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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