LAGGING Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

lagging 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of lagging

as in slow

moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the lagging pace of work on the project was worrisome

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lagging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lag

as in fading

to lose bodily strength or vigor during the fourth quarter the whole team seemed to lag

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in delaying

to move or act slowly the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack

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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 lagging

Adjective

Every initiative should identify its operational leading indicator, financial lagging indicator, value owner and realization mechanism. — Todd Bernson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Just last month, Microsoft began layoffs of 20% of its Xbox employees as part of a sweeping reorganization to revive the company’s lagging games division. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 The United States typically experiences the lagging edge of Latin American displacement waves. — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025 So while America is most likely still a highly desirable place for all kinds of investors, from the average person putting money into a 401(k) to a professional trader, the lagging performance this year is more than your typical year. — Christian Orozco, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025 Layer on infrastructure costs, amortization, new storage mandates, refinery retrofits for changing crude blends and the lagging effects of the LCFS credit. — Michael Mische, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025 Reporting is inconsistent and lagging. — Miami Herald, 1 July 2025

Verb

The North American box office is still chasing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and despite a blockbuster summer, ticket sales are still lagging. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 For instance, polls during Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary showed Democrat David Crowley lagging other candidates by wide margins. — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 That gap between rising adoption and lagging deployment isn't a technology problem. — Anders Liu-Lindberg, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Over its first 10 days or so on the streamer, the new episodes have managed to rank high on Netflix’s weekly English TV list, but overall are lagging compared with Season 2. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 Other measures suggest disparities persist, with hourly earnings for nonsupervisory and production workers lagging behind inflation. — Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 In the space of 18 months, China has gone from lagging far behind the US to hosting multiple AI models that are nipping at the heels of Silicon Valley’s champions and gaining major traction among users globally. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 Vision is another area where the second-year back is lagging behind Stevenson. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagging

Adjective

Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Critical thinking is based on the need for a deliberate, slow, self-regulatory pause.

— Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of slow

Verb

As the conflict grinds on, Trump’s talk of finding a quick end to the war also appears to be fading.

— Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
European banks have shaken off a weak first quarter to notch solid share price gains in the year to date, but Citi analysts warn their momentum may be fading.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of fading

Adjective

That turned a familiar one-run game, of which the Dodgers have had a lot lately, into a leisurely Sunday stroll.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Unfolding at a more leisurely pace, the upcoming lunar eclipse will have a much bigger audience than Europe’s solar show.

— Marcia Dunn, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of leisurely

Verb

Throughout this year, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has been weakening the Navy’s leadership by blocking the promotion of nearly 20 admirals.

— Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Wheat futures hit their highest level in more than three years as the war in Ukraine strained supplies, further weakening the global food system.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakening

Verb

Patterson, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has experience at guard and center, and the 49ers needed a backup at both spots considering Toth’s lingering concussion symptoms.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
For Green, and the Warriors (2-0), the victory eliminated any lingering doubts about their season opener last week, a thrilling, 32-26 triple-overtime win against Newbury Park.

— Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

Beneath that sits a high-density support-foam foundation designed to limit sagging and compression over time, along with a textured anti-slip base to reduce movement on the bed frame.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026
Which is why her character flicks through YouTube plastic surgery videos and stares at older women on the bus, comparing her wrinkles and checking her neck for any signs of sagging.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of sagging

Browse Nearby Words

laggers

lagging

lagniappe

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Style

“Lagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagging. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lagging

adjective

verb

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