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.
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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
Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
ServiceNow’s software-as-a-service model has struggled on the stock market in recent months, lagging due to investor excitement around AI agents.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 19, Futurism, 19 Mar. 2026
Even without the party support of Feigenholtz’s campaign, Uniejewski is lagging behind the state senator in fundraising.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Before the start of the war, the California economy seemed poised for strong growth despite a lagging jobs market that has seen multiple employers — including several major tech companies such as Google, Block and Autodesk — slash payrolls by the thousands.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Then there’s India’s music market, which is characterized by high consumption but lagging monetization.
—Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
The Boise City Council has finalized changes to its zoning code, striking electric vehicle charging requirements while opening up more options for homes on single-family lots in a suite of changes designed to spur the city’s lagging housing stock.
—Mark Dee
march 12, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
While much of the attention has focused on political finger-pointing and cleanup efforts near the nation's capital, watermen and oyster buyers say their industry may suffer the longest-lasting damage, with demand lagging even as testing shows improving conditions.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Speedtest developer Ookla found that AT&T offers the top-performing fiber service, but the carrier’s mobile network has been lagging behind T-Mobile and Verizon in speeds.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 10 Mar. 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
Track both leading metrics (usage, cycle time, speed to pilot) and lagging ones (value, cost reduction, satisfaction).
—Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
ServiceNow’s software-as-a-service model has struggled on the stock market in recent months, lagging due to investor excitement around AI agents.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 19, Futurism, 19 Mar. 2026
Even without the party support of Feigenholtz’s campaign, Uniejewski is lagging behind the state senator in fundraising.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Before the start of the war, the California economy seemed poised for strong growth despite a lagging jobs market that has seen multiple employers — including several major tech companies such as Google, Block and Autodesk — slash payrolls by the thousands.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Then there’s India’s music market, which is characterized by high consumption but lagging monetization.
—Andrew Wallenstein, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
The Boise City Council has finalized changes to its zoning code, striking electric vehicle charging requirements while opening up more options for homes on single-family lots in a suite of changes designed to spur the city’s lagging housing stock.
—Mark Dee
march 12, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026
While much of the attention has focused on political finger-pointing and cleanup efforts near the nation's capital, watermen and oyster buyers say their industry may suffer the longest-lasting damage, with demand lagging even as testing shows improving conditions.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Speedtest developer Ookla found that AT&T offers the top-performing fiber service, but the carrier’s mobile network has been lagging behind T-Mobile and Verizon in speeds.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagging
Adjective
-
This chaged profile results in improved satiety and a slower blood sugar spike.—
Jahnavi Rapaka,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2026
-
That alone would create a challenging year for water managers, who rely on slow and steady snowmelt to feed streams, rivers and reservoirs and meet spring and summer demand for irrigation and drinking water.—
Mira Rojanasakul,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It’s made with 96% snail secretion filtrate, a humectant-rich ingredient known for calming irritation, fading post-acne marks, and supporting skin repair.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Siakam also unsuccessfully used a fake before fading away, only to have Wembanyama block the shot, which Carter Bryant grabbed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The law, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, allowed for a single extension delaying the restriction under certain conditions, Warner noted.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Trouble at an Xcel Energy substation caused a power outage lasting about an hour that triggered a Federal Aviation Administration order to ground flights to Denver International Airport on Wednesday morning, leading to darkness and disarray in DIA and delaying thousands of travelers.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
So the coming months are a period for cocktails in bigger glasses, vessels that welcome more liquid for more leisurely sipping.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Otherwise, consider the more posh neighborhoods of Chelsea and Kensington—ideal for leisurely days spent browsing boutiques and art galleries or strolling over to Notting Hill for coffee and craft bakeries.—
Katharine Sohn,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The aims have ranged from weakening Iran's nuclear program, missile program and support for armed proxies to enabling the Iranian people to overthrow the theocracy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
But that same logic was applied to other things like weakening labor protections, with factories shutting down and the country beginning to see the demise of labor unions.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Continue on to The Shed Distillery, where Drumshanbo gin is distilled among forest-edge botanicals; the tasting room and café are worth lingering in.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
For many in South Florida, the possibility of compensation remains uncertain — with major questions lingering over eligibility, funding, and whether any agreement would require significant political concessions.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
James Madison used a sagging zone defense in the paint or a double-team on Strack in an attempt to slow down the Wildcats, but that left Strack’s teammates open for easy shots.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Release, for contouring and pressure relief; and Adaptive, to keep the bed from sagging.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With negotiations dragging, hundreds of TSA agents have quit during the partial shutdown and thousands of others have called out of work.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The Lebanese government has been critical of Iran and accuses its Revolutionary Guard of operating in Lebanon alongside Hezbollah, and dragging the country into another war with Israel.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagging. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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