as in slow
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the lagging pace of work on the project was worrisome
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fading
to lose bodily strength or vigor
during the fourth quarter the whole team seemed to lag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack
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 lagging
Albert Lie, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Most public companies limp along with five-year returns lagging the S&P 500.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Those three are just a few of the proposals that companies have pitched to a county hoping to find new ways to reduce the steam of waste fastly filling landfills and to improve lagging recycling rates by residents.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Noticing your signal lagging at home when people are gaming and streaming?
—PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Going into Wednesday’s report, Salesforce was down 23% for the year, lagging behind all but one stock in the Dow and trailing all other large-cap tech companies.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
While the vacuum industry is besting itself over the years, including robot helpers with AI capabilities, cordless vacuums are not lagging behind thanks to slimmer, more streamlined bodies, longer run times, and upgraded wet-dry features.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Tech companies are racing to advance AI at breakneck speed, sparking broad concern that safety guardrails are lagging in comparison.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025
From tariffs squeezing profits and constrained supply chains to lagging consumer demand for electric vehicles, automotive sales — especially among Stellantis brands — have sputtered.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Inventory And Demand Forecasting Forecasting has traditionally been a mix of guesswork and lagging indicators.
—Albert Lie, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Oceanside Unified was one of the few local districts where girls were outperforming boys before the pandemic and lagging them five years later, the AP analysis found.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Most public companies limp along with five-year returns lagging the S&P 500.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Those three are just a few of the proposals that companies have pitched to a county hoping to find new ways to reduce the steam of waste fastly filling landfills and to improve lagging recycling rates by residents.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Noticing your signal lagging at home when people are gaming and streaming?
—PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Going into Wednesday’s report, Salesforce was down 23% for the year, lagging behind all but one stock in the Dow and trailing all other large-cap tech companies.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
While the vacuum industry is besting itself over the years, including robot helpers with AI capabilities, cordless vacuums are not lagging behind thanks to slimmer, more streamlined bodies, longer run times, and upgraded wet-dry features.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Tech companies are racing to advance AI at breakneck speed, sparking broad concern that safety guardrails are lagging in comparison.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025
From tariffs squeezing profits and constrained supply chains to lagging consumer demand for electric vehicles, automotive sales — especially among Stellantis brands — have sputtered.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagging
Adjective
-
Biden, who ended his bid for a second White House term 107 days before last year's election, has been relatively slow to move on presidential library planning compared with most of his recent predecessors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
-
With Parkinson’s, doctors implant electrodes in the brain that produce electrical impulses to disrupt the abnormal signals that cause tremors, stiffness and slow movement.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the data shows the dream is fading.—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Now go claim the best Labor Day clothing sales before they—and summer itself—set like the fading sun.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Glamour,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Coach Mike McDaniel said Waller was injured before Wednesday’s practice, delaying his return after spending last season in retirement.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The experts also recommend keeping devices out of bedrooms at night, establishing screen-free meals and even considering delaying access until mid-adolescence.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Bring along family or friends to enjoy a leisurely walk, trip to your local cider mill, adventurous hike or a picnic.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
With plates this inventive, brunch at Etch is less a leisurely pause and more an invitation to explore bold, boundary-crossing flavors.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
America’s retreat from WHO deepens the damage by weakening global systems for monitoring outbreaks, reviewing evidence and maintaining databases such as the Global Burden of Disease.—
Stan Chu Ilo,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
That underscored rising concerns of weakening in the labor market, a trend that has shown up in anecdotal evidence for several months.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Yet with so many worries lingering, even after Shi’s attempt to reassure them, confidence is as low as at any time in his nine years at the helm.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, Jennings has been dealing with a lingering calf injury that kept him out of action through preseason.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Fed reduces rates to bolster a sagging economy and raises rates or keeps them higher for longer to curb inflation.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Other issues with rotting, sagging and deterioration were present in other buildings, according to the inspections.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Since the deal closed in 2015, Kraft Heinz shares had tumbled nearly 70% as of Friday's close, dragging the company's market value down to $33 billion.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Nvidia fell roughly 2%, dragging the market lower.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagging. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share