1
as in fades
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 delays
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 lags
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
But as many speakers in Sonoma noted, the reality of proving what works in AI often lags behind the pace of innovation.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Uncertainty over the timing, pace, funding and size of such policies is likely to keep economists and investors concerned over the government’s ability to rebalance an economy in which household consumption lags global averages by about 20 percentage points of GDP.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
But despite its economic growth, Santa Rosa lags the countries that claim it.
—Isa Cardona, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Tubbs still lags behind two Democratic opponents in fundraising.
—Kate Wolffe
october 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Organizations like the National Institutes of Health, universities, and companies have launched promising initiatives, but the leadership of clinical trials by women still lags behind men.
—Harsh Gupta, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Authorities have punished numerous bloggers, including one who observed that China still lags far behind the West in terms of quality of life.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Owners don’t split that money with players, so the appetite is there for a league that lags behind the NFL, NBA and MLB in annual revenue.
—Rob Rossi, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
Hysteresis occurs when motion lags slightly behind the forces driving it, such as when gears hesitate while reversing direction.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
But as many speakers in Sonoma noted, the reality of proving what works in AI often lags behind the pace of innovation.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Uncertainty over the timing, pace, funding and size of such policies is likely to keep economists and investors concerned over the government’s ability to rebalance an economy in which household consumption lags global averages by about 20 percentage points of GDP.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
But despite its economic growth, Santa Rosa lags the countries that claim it.
—Isa Cardona, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Tubbs still lags behind two Democratic opponents in fundraising.
—Kate Wolffe
october 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Organizations like the National Institutes of Health, universities, and companies have launched promising initiatives, but the leadership of clinical trials by women still lags behind men.
—Harsh Gupta, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Authorities have punished numerous bloggers, including one who observed that China still lags far behind the West in terms of quality of life.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Owners don’t split that money with players, so the appetite is there for a league that lags behind the NFL, NBA and MLB in annual revenue.
—Rob Rossi, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lags
Verb
-
Estevie’s voice resonates throughout that lush blend of cumbia-pop, and leaves an impression that lingers long after the music fades.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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Like all sugar rushes, the high fades fast and you’re left with a stomachache.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Department officials later told her in texts and emails that delays completing the more detailed review of Rochelle’s home were her fault.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
But that was before the arrival of teplizumab, a monoclonal antibody approved in late 2022 that delays the advance of the illness and may even halt it at stage 2 in some people.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Other major international hubs like Dubai (DXB), Charles de Gaulle (CDG), and Tokyo Haneda (HND) also report significant slowdowns.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Airport numbers slow to rebound in Bay Area Potential air traffic slowdowns are arriving at a delicate time for airports, some of which have yet to recover from temporary travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects since.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Light snow lingers into the evening.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But beverages that contain THC don’t hit like alcohol, instead causing a sensation that’s more like a slow exhale that lingers just long enough to make the room feel softer, the music warmer and your friends a little funnier.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Queen of minimalism, Janet has essentially just set type in panels—but the way the background sags like a deflating hot-air balloon, with the type recessed into it, is so wry and brilliant.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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This not-quite-title song, which is nearly eight minutes long, is a sort of mini-suite, opening with a dog barking, giving way to an acoustic-guitar melody accompanying polyphonic vocals, then becoming electric and crashingly alive, until the relentless screech of a guitar drags you to the end.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Taking intentional pauses is key, too.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
8 Jan. 2026
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The pauses are just as much dialogue as the words.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lags. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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