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 Tagovailoa on return, boos Falcons and former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was greeted with boos during Friday’s preseason game, lingered on the field afterward to embrace several former teammates and Dolphins staffers. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026 Young wound up going 8–5 as a starter and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, but tensions lingered. — Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Kannan’s ability to manage so many characters while developing them all sufficiently to feel vivid and real … The ending has lingered in my mind long after the final page. — Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026 Giants manager Tony Vitello lingered in the dugout after the game and watched as Wilkinson’s crew gave him a rousing cheer. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Other, less cartoonish responses have lingered on Cambridge’s comparable glee in brandishing Arday in the first place. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026 The median days homes listed on the market — meaning half sold more quickly and half lingered longer — was 32 days in metro Detroit before selling in July, up five days from the same time a year ago. — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Global attention has rarely lingered on the part of Kashmir administered by Pakistan. — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 Even though clouds lingered along the city skyline, the show still went on. — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingered

Verb

Delane’s pro debut was delayed by a shoulder injury suffered in the spring, limiting his practice in OTAs and training camp.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
Urgent repair projects will be delayed, construction costs will multiply, and the visitor experience will inevitably decline as facilities fall into disrepair, risking the safety of millions of tourists and residents alike.

— Lulu Vilas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of delayed

Verb

The winter chill that dragged digital assets down during most of the hot summer months is finally beginning to lift, with the price of Bitcoin surging about 20 percent last week, its strongest three-day rally since 2023.

— Peter Mintzberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
In 2024, Burke’s squad dragged itself off the mat after an awful (yet at the time, typical) start to the season to go unbeaten in 12 of 13 matches down the stretch and narrowly miss the playoffs.

— Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of dragged

Verb

Better together Industry analysts, experts and insiders have consistently poked holes in the states' argument that the combination of TV networks would create antitrust issues.

— Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
So too were the buildings, including my hotel, which poked through the seven-foot-high snowbanks, looking like an ancient shipwreck covered in shifting sand.

— Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

The couple strolled through Hampstead with their two dogs in tow.

— Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Just last week, Minnesota strolled into San Francisco, delivered a clinical beatdown and strutted off the floor like brash royalty, reminding the peasants of their place.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 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

Tech has crept into every facet of everyday life, like an invisible fog of ones and zeros.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
The height of this strategy shift was the Sneak Attack by Roger (SABR), in which Federer crept forward to return opponent’s serves almost on the half volley, shortening points and taking away time from his opponent.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lingered

verb

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