LINGERED Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

lingered

verb

past tense of linger

as in delayed

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

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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 lingered Events ranging from a baby parade in Flint, Michigan, to a rock concert in Herndon, Virginia, and the America’s Mile marathon in Pittsburgh were canceled Friday as smoke lingered. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 But concerns have lingered, especially after major wins on contracts involving US government policy or actions. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026 PayPal, whose shares have lingered close to 10-year lows, isn’t interested in a deal with the bidding group at this time, these people said. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who bowed out in the opening round, lingered on the field, their children running around them. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 14 July 2026 At the Pfizer building on East Forty-second Street, earlier this week, disaster, and the sense of excitement that disaster can create, lingered. — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 11 July 2026 Because the problem lingered, the break presented an opportunity to address it before the second half. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Tasters picked up notes of fresh yellow corn, balanced by gentle sweetness and a deeper roasted, savory character that lingered after each bite. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 July 2026 That’s the lesson that lingered long after that statement was made. — Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 9 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingered

Verb

Negotiations started months before the expiration date, Acree said, but were delayed in good faith because of new leadership at the helm.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
More than half of Chinese clean-tech investments in the US announced since 2022 have been canceled, paused, or delayed.

— Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of delayed

Verb

Scardovari, Italy — As the sun was rising, two fisherwomen dragged their boat through the Scardovari lagoon in northeastern Italy.

— Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
The animation is often rudimentary, particularly in outer-space scenes that are effectively a cut-out of a starship being dragged across a stellar background.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of dragged

Verb

It’s now understood that Russia in 2016 poked the election systems in all 50 states to check what protections were in place and accessed—but did not change—some very local registration rosters in Florida and Illinois.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2026
The teen said Jones poked his head through the doorway, then returned to the room and continued firing before leaving the apartment.

— Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

Hull testified that Robinson later returned in different clothing, walking with a limp, rolled onto the roof of a building on campus and crawled to the edge of the rooftop around the time the shot was fired.

— N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Their father dismounted, went down on foot, climbed the fence his son had crawled under.

— Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of crawled

Verb

In a video that’s racking up millions of views online, a curious bear strolled up to a golf cart at Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, helped itself to a player's golf bag, then casually dragged it away from the tee box.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Those Argentina fans strolled past the Monterey apartments on Wornall Road at the perfect time, because Susan Goldenberg was doing one of her weekly porch concerts.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026

Definition of strolled

Verb

Other executives, coaches and support staff loitered in the hall, speaking in hushed tones if at all.

— Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
In the petition filing, Buckingham wrote that Dick had loitered around his and his family members’ homes, called repeatedly and left threatening voicemails, and taped a photo collage of herself and Buckingham to his mailbox.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026

Definition of loitered

Verb

Grubbs grew up in a northwest suburb called Marietta, before the sprawl of Atlanta crept in.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Indiana had crept back within striking distance early in the third quarter, and Gainbridge was rocking, sensing a signature Fever win in the making.

— Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

Definition of crept

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linger

lingered

lingerer

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“Lingered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingered. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of lingered

verb

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