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
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
The two men dined at a table alone, lingering long after all other diners had dispersed.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Maybe things didn’t go as planned or maybe there’s no clear reason at all, just a lingering unsettling feeling.
—Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Rooms are generous in size and designed for lingering and lounging.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Meta is lingering around the 150-day moving average, and, having recently fallen below it, this reversion may be a head fake.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Point’s knee injury, which knocked him out of the Olympics, can’t be discounted as a lingering factor.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Gamaly Hollis, who served nearly a year in jail for violating a judge’s order to stay away from the Miami-Dade police officer who shot and killed her son, has been cleared of lingering charges that could have sent her back to jail.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
This visit comes at a low point in the relationship between the two allies, including disputes over the war in Iran and lingering controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
Verb
While coverage is expected to be more scattered, isolated strong to severe storms could still produce hail and gusty winds, particularly where daytime heating and lingering boundaries overlap.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
The two men dined at a table alone, lingering long after all other diners had dispersed.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Maybe things didn’t go as planned or maybe there’s no clear reason at all, just a lingering unsettling feeling.
—Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Rooms are generous in size and designed for lingering and lounging.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Meta is lingering around the 150-day moving average, and, having recently fallen below it, this reversion may be a head fake.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Point’s knee injury, which knocked him out of the Olympics, can’t be discounted as a lingering factor.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Gamaly Hollis, who served nearly a year in jail for violating a judge’s order to stay away from the Miami-Dade police officer who shot and killed her son, has been cleared of lingering charges that could have sent her back to jail.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
This visit comes at a low point in the relationship between the two allies, including disputes over the war in Iran and lingering controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingering
Adjective
-
When the permit was being considered and public comments expressed concern about how the facility would affect the environment, Kelly Keel, TCEQ’s executive director, said the wastewater wasn’t expected to contain any residual lithium, chemical runoff or other harmful pollutants.—
Arcelia Martin,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The union also moved the needle forward in a minor capacity on the residual and AI front, as well as minimum rate increases.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
San Diego is delaying most impacts of a new state law that requires cities to allow high-rise housing near trolley stations and major bus stops — but questions persist about how many bus stops the new law will affect.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Yamaha’s plant shut down due to Covid-19, delaying TCW’s ability to retrieve and return the equipment in the allotted time, but Evergreen still charged the fees.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
And there are valid questions about what lasting impact there may be for the Kansas City area, particularly in terms of future regional transportation concepts that KC2026 hopes will take root.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 May 2026
-
Whether students are trying a sport for the first time or preparing for a competitive season, this summer’s camps and clinics promise an environment where every Falcon can develop skills, build connections, and make lasting memories.—
Cullen Gibson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Sam instead proposes that the performer dance to it without music, a prompt that is followed by Anne Hathaway flinging herself across the room, dragging her body across the floor in a hypnotic spectacle that seems to convey struggle, possession, and loss of control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Even the sleeker Samsonite Proxis feels substantial without dragging you over the limit.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The post quickly drew a wave of reactions online, with some users poking fun at both the situation and Jones’ outfit.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
Here, Ibrahima Konate has the simple task of poking the ball through United’s midfield, Wirtz swaps passes with Szoboszlai, and then has a decent attempt at goal.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Ahmed Moustafa, who operates a halal cart near Yankee Stadium, is still crawling out from the pandemic.—
Yuna Kim,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2026
-
Detroit then went to Orlando and extended its hopes yet again — crawling out of a 24-point hole through a historic clampdown.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
For another easy-to-care-for choice that relishes sunlight, look to creeping juniper and its beautifully hazy blue-green leaves.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That dingy look creeping across the screens and settling on every surface?—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingering. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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