LAG Synonyms: 195 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'lag' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lag are dally , dawdle , delay , loiter , and procrastinate . While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others. // lagging behind in technology

Q: When might 'dally' be a better fit than 'lag'?

Although the words dally and lag have much in common, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary. // stop dallying and get to work

Q: When is 'delay' a more appropriate choice than 'lag'?

In some situations, the words delay and lag are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure). // we cannot delay any longer

Q: How do 'loiter' and 'dawdle' relate to one another, in the sense of 'lag'?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time. // loitered at several store windows // children dawdling on their way home from school

Q: In what contexts can 'procrastinate' take the place of 'lag'?

While in some cases nearly identical to lag , procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. // procrastinates about making decisions

Q: How is the word 'lag' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lag are dally , dawdle , delay , loiter , and procrastinate . While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others. // lagging behind in technology

Q: When might 'dally' be a better fit than 'lag'?

Although the words dally and lag have much in common, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary. // stop dallying and get to work

Q: When is 'delay' a more appropriate choice than 'lag'?

In some situations, the words delay and lag are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure). // we cannot delay any longer

Q: How do 'loiter' and 'dawdle' relate to one another, in the sense of 'lag'?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time. // loitered at several store windows // children dawdling on their way home from school

Q: In what contexts can 'procrastinate' take the place of 'lag'?

While in some cases nearly identical to lag , procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. // procrastinates about making decisions

lag 1 of 3

verb

Definition of lag next

as in to fade

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to delay

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lag

2 of 3

adjective

as in final

following all others of the same kind in order or time we're now in the lag end of the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lag

3 of 3

noun

as in slowdown

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lag different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lag are dally, dawdle, delay, loiter, and procrastinate. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

When might dally be a better fit than lag?

Although the words dally and lag have much in common, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When is delay a more appropriate choice than lag?

In some situations, the words delay and lag are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of lag?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows

children dawdling on their way home from school

In what contexts can procrastinate take the place of lag?

While in some cases nearly identical to lag, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

How is the word lag different from other verbs like it?

lagging behind in technology

When might dally be a better fit than lag?

Although the words dally and lag have much in common, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When is delay a more appropriate choice than lag?

In some situations, the words delay and lag are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of lag?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows

children dawdling on their way home from school

In what contexts can procrastinate take the place of lag?

While in some cases nearly identical to lag, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

How is the word lag different from other verbs like it?

lagging behind in technology

When might dally be a better fit than lag?

Although the words dally and lag have much in common, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When is delay a more appropriate choice than lag?

In some situations, the words delay and lag are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of lag?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows

children dawdling on their way home from school

In what contexts can procrastinate take the place of lag?

While in some cases nearly identical to lag, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

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 lag

Verb

Experts also noted that DeepSeek made no reference to using Chinese chips during training, which is a notable omission given the broader push for technological self-sufficiency, and one that stands out as the model continues to lag behind leading US frontier systems. —

Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026 The Democratic former state controller, lagging in funds and stuck at 2% in the polls, drops out of the governor’s race two weeks before ballots begin arriving in voters’ mailboxes. —

Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Get worse over the next few weeks, but that still- that has a lag effect. —

CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026 Faster speeds mean less lag and smoother use for multiple devices. —

Kara McGinley, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025

Noun

Although Congress recently passed more funding for global health aid in fiscal year 2026, which includes money for family planning and reproductive health, budget experts told CNN that there will be a yearlong lag time for that money to be spent. —

Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 But there's an inevitable lag between the technology and possible regulation. —

Ari Daniel, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lag

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lag

Verb

Garments spanning nylon half-zips to French Terry sweatshirts, garments look faded and worn-in and feature hallmarks of denim like whiskers, creases, abrasions and breakages that tell stories of time and use.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 Apr. 2026
It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

Definition of fade

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ladyships

lag

laggard

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“Lag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lag. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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Synonyms of lag

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