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
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Recent Examples of lagging
Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
So while America is most likely still a highly desirable place for all kinds of investors, from the average person putting money into a 401(k) to a professional trader, the lagging performance this year is more than your typical year.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025
Layer on infrastructure costs, amortization, new storage mandates, refinery retrofits for changing crude blends and the lagging effects of the LCFS credit.
—Michael Mische, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Reporting is inconsistent and lagging.
—Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Yet the response to the deadly epidemic in Congo is lagging – and health officials are missing thousands of people who may be at risk.
—Jennifer Rigby, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Many respondents said bookings were even lagging behind that of a typical summer.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
Billionaire Tom Steyer still holds a chance at 15%, but all other candidates who were once viable are lagging behind by single-digit percentages.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
And corporate earnings are lagging behind stock market valuations.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
Daniele Mascolo | Reuters Stellantis' stock is lagging under CEO Antonio Filosa.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Roughly three-quarters of Americans say their incomes are lagging behind inflation, according to a CBS News poll.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Adjective
The lagging percentage of women film directors last year is a clear sign that the industry is going backward, said Kirsten Schaffer, chief executive of WIF, which advocates for women in Hollywood.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
So while America is most likely still a highly desirable place for all kinds of investors, from the average person putting money into a 401(k) to a professional trader, the lagging performance this year is more than your typical year.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025
Layer on infrastructure costs, amortization, new storage mandates, refinery retrofits for changing crude blends and the lagging effects of the LCFS credit.
—Michael Mische, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Reporting is inconsistent and lagging.
—Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
The speed of decision making reflects organizational clarity, trust and strategic alignment better than almost any lagging indicator.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Yet the response to the deadly epidemic in Congo is lagging – and health officials are missing thousands of people who may be at risk.
—Jennifer Rigby, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Many respondents said bookings were even lagging behind that of a typical summer.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
Billionaire Tom Steyer still holds a chance at 15%, but all other candidates who were once viable are lagging behind by single-digit percentages.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
And corporate earnings are lagging behind stock market valuations.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 22 May 2026
Daniele Mascolo | Reuters Stellantis' stock is lagging under CEO Antonio Filosa.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Roughly three-quarters of Americans say their incomes are lagging behind inflation, according to a CBS News poll.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagging
Adjective
-
Recovery of the bodies has been slow because of the chemicals and other hazards present at the site, Amos explained.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
One of the most painful things about this disease is knowing that promising treatments are emerging, but funding barriers and manufacturing and procedural slow-downs continue to derail progress.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
At Eau Bar during early sunset, spring for a poolside lounger to catch a soul-stirring ceremony of bodu beru drummers walking the edge of a circular infinity pool, torch-lighting a fire ring backed by a fading horizon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
The components might be familiar—guitars that sound like they’re played through a busted Zenith TV at full volume, heavy acoustic strumming à la ’90s folk-grunge group Days of the New, Slocum’s fading read-out of a voice—but they’re all pulled into slightly unusual shapes.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Hilton proposes to reform the California Environmental Quality Act so that only government prosecutors can sue, preventing private individuals and organizations from stopping or delaying new housing projects.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Nearly 40% of calls handled by Sacramento’s emergency medical services system were non-emergencies, tying up ambulances and paramedics, delaying urgent medical responses and adding nearly $5 million in costs to the city, according to a city audit.—
Reeti Malhotra
May 29,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Jodie Foster steps out after enjoying a leisurely brunch with her wife at Café Cluny in New York City on May 27.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
Acceleration is leisurely, however, even for this group of cars.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Brooks Koepka, who rejoined the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at the last minute despite being originally scheduled to play, further weakening the field.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 May 2026
-
Second, some worry that some of the financial safeguards and market disciplines developed after previous crises may be weakening.—
Robert Ginsburg,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The finish is medium to long, with lingering notes of oak, cocoa, and a light citrus-spice lift.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The Athletic Club Oakland had closed in February, with blame going toward the lingering effects of the pandemic and professional sports teams leaving Oakland.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Trump’s sagging approval rating comes as Democrats have a chance at outperforming Republicans in midterms, with Emerson’s May poll showing Democrats with a 9-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot, though 9% of voters were undecided.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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Plus, sun damage can play a big role in sagging and lead to double chin lines—sometimes referred to as turkey neck.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Glamour,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Sources of Putin’s Sluggish Polling One would think that the reason for this decline in Putin’s approval rating would be the war in Ukraine dragging on.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
This is a man who has dedicated six and a half years of his life, just about every waking moment, to dragging his club to the top of the mountain.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagging. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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