LINGER Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

linger

verb

ˈliŋ-gər

Definition of linger

as in to delay

to move or act slowly since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 linger FireSat will help incident commanders get better information more quickly, and, unlike fire-spotting aircraft, the satellites can linger over a fire for days or weeks and aren’t hampered by high winds or smoke. — Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 While club sources corroborated that the relationship appears in better standing, the Soto-Lindor dynamic has lingered for two seasons. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Gas prices ease as economic anxiety lingers Gas prices have dropped sharply in the weeks since the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, surprising analysts who had warned drivers could be in for a summer of soaring fuel costs. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026 The severe weather threat will linger for parts of the mid-Atlantic on Sunday, stretching from northern Virginia into southern New Jersey, with cities like Richmond, DC, Baltimore and Philly in the threat zone once again. — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for linger

Recent Examples of Synonyms for linger

Verb

Trump is speaking now to a crowd filling the National Mall after being delayed by inclement weather.

— Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Attendees were told to shelter in nearby government buildings, and the celebration was delayed by a few hours before going on as scheduled.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 July 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality.

— Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of drag

Verb

So, while the Dodgers crawled out of the hole with a season-high 17 hits, the steep cost heightens the pressure on the rest of the rotation the rest of the series.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.

— Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

Definition of crawl

Verb

Calderón, a big, bald man wearing a gold chain and cross-shaped earrings, sat off to the side, amid an entourage of muscular assistants in polo shirts, poking at his phone.

— Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Find a location with an unobstructed view to the southeast, where the full moon’s orangey disk will poke above the horizon minutes after the moonrise time — though exactly when depends on local terrain and buildings.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Definition of poke

Verb

On a recent commute to the Allure office, commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann picked up a new base routine from Laura Mercier and rediscovered the joys of loitering in a Sephora.

— Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 1 July 2026
In light of modern threat scenarios—particularly the widespread use of drones and loitering munitions—the Skyranger closes a critical capability gap for Western armed forces.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 June 2026

Definition of loiter

Verb

The result is an elegant and very summery look that’s perfect for strolling around town, dining, or traveling in style.

— René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 3 July 2026
Officials throughout the state have tried to wrestle with the gray area e-bikes occupy — faster than humans strolling on the greenbelt but not quite at the same level as cars and trucks.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026

Definition of stroll

Browse Nearby Words

line up

linger

lingered

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Style

“Linger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linger. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of linger

verb

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