as in snails
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others
by three o'clock, only a few stragglers were still making their painful way to the marathon's finish
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Recent Examples of stragglers
This spring, Brood II stragglers will emerge between late April and May in states like Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, and North Carolina, according to a map from the University of Connecticut.
—
Finch Walker, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
They’re known, aptly, as stragglers.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2026
The Yankees and Giants played the official first game of the season, but the majority of teams began play on March 26 (with a few stragglers on March 27).
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Wolves commonly kill stragglers, but though some of these animals are weak, others are not.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
In the coming days, weary investors will also need to contend with a fresh batch of jobs data and a few stragglers on the earnings front, including Club name Nike .
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
As the crowd loops onto W 46th Street, a few stragglers follow behind, but a majority of marchers have reentered the park.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
This spring, Brood II stragglers will emerge between late April and May in states like Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, and North Carolina, according to a map from the University of Connecticut.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Mar. 2026
Yet a few stragglers, drinks in hand, watched the horizon, waiting for ignition.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Finch Walker, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
They’re known, aptly, as stragglers.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2026
The Yankees and Giants played the official first game of the season, but the majority of teams began play on March 26 (with a few stragglers on March 27).
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Wolves commonly kill stragglers, but though some of these animals are weak, others are not.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
In the coming days, weary investors will also need to contend with a fresh batch of jobs data and a few stragglers on the earnings front, including Club name Nike .
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
As the crowd loops onto W 46th Street, a few stragglers follow behind, but a majority of marchers have reentered the park.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
This spring, Brood II stragglers will emerge between late April and May in states like Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, and North Carolina, according to a map from the University of Connecticut.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Mar. 2026
Yet a few stragglers, drinks in hand, watched the horizon, waiting for ignition.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stragglers
snails
Noun
-
The tide pools around Haystack and elsewhere along Cannon Beach are extraordinary, with colorful sea stars, anemones, crabs, snails, coral, sponges, and sea slugs.—
Kara Williams,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to helping keep snails and slugs from snacking on your plants, Handley says, the eggshells will biodegrade naturally, and providing a small calcium boost to your garden soil.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stragglers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stragglers. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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