as in residual
still existing or happening after something is completed or removed
The area is still feeling the lingering effects of the hurricane. There are lingering questions about the extent of his involvement in the crime.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lingering
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Indeed, households, especially low-income ones, still face challenges affording basic goods and services due to lingering high prices.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Stating clear start and end times sets expectations and reduces the likelihood of lingering guests.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
From stubborn mystery stains to lingering odors, secondhand shopping often comes with its fair share of surprises.
—Essence, 5 Nov. 2025
This system will also usher in the coldest weather of the season so far, lingering into early next week.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Taylor Decker has been dealing with a lingering shoulder issue, and picked up a knee injury Sunday.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
An airport spokesperson said there was no lingering impact Monday from the delays.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Place pheromone traps around your closet to capture any lingering moths.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
The overnight storm was likely triggered by a glancing CME arrival that combined with lingering effects from a high-speed solar wind stream, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Indeed, households, especially low-income ones, still face challenges affording basic goods and services due to lingering high prices.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Stating clear start and end times sets expectations and reduces the likelihood of lingering guests.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
From stubborn mystery stains to lingering odors, secondhand shopping often comes with its fair share of surprises.
—Essence, 5 Nov. 2025
This system will also usher in the coldest weather of the season so far, lingering into early next week.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Taylor Decker has been dealing with a lingering shoulder issue, and picked up a knee injury Sunday.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
An airport spokesperson said there was no lingering impact Monday from the delays.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Place pheromone traps around your closet to capture any lingering moths.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingering
Adjective
-
The system uses the infrared wavelength—invisible to the naked eye—as opposed to visible light to prevent the signals from interfering with the residual peripheral vision the subjects still have.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The bubbles in the laminate layer of the windshield resulted from an excess of residual air trapped during the windshield lamination manufacturing process, according to the recall report.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These cuts mean reducing supply budgets in most departments, delaying the purchase of new math curriculum and Chromebooks, freezing hiring for nonclassroom positions and canceling contract agreements that will not disrupt operations.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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In such cases, delaying treatment may worsen the condition.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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After a Boston appeals court ruled late Friday to not immediately intervene, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a ruling pausing the requirement to distribute full SNAP payments until the appeals court rules on whether to issue a more lasting pause, the Associated Press said.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Families have lost confidence in the safety of their tap water, and that loss of trust has its own lasting harm.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Apart from being walking-friendly enough for commuting to and from the office, the relatively comfortable heel also gives your denim, maxidresses, and trousers a little lift, keeping hems from dragging.—
Shelby Ying Hyde,
Glamour,
11 Nov. 2025
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Introducing a 50-year mortgage could help individuals and families facing higher borrowing and homeownership costs, but experts warn that any benefit could be easily outweighed by dragging on payments for 20 years longer than the standard 30-year term.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Tonight, after poking the bear, this bear roared.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
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There are also dual Akrapvoic exhausts poking out the rear, framed by slim taillights.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
His fur was singed and bitten, his arm broken, and his mouth crawling with maggots.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Amazon has already taken steps in recent months to prevent external AI agents from crawling its website, including those developed by OpenAI, Google and Meta.—
Ashley Capoot,Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In the end, the Democrats mostly oriented their demands toward health care—above all, the renewal of expiring Obamacare subsidies—as opposed to, say, prioritizing more abstract ultimatums related to creeping authoritarianism.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
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Although the start of winter is still a few weeks away, colder temperatures and even snow chances are creeping in.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingering. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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