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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
2
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lagging
Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 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
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Reporting is inconsistent and lagging.
—Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Grace Hase, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
As of last April, the state environmental agency was also lagging behind on inspections of polluting facilities, according to the audit.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2026
Netflix has set a big $25 billion stock buyback program as the streaming giant seeks to combat, or take advantage of, a lagging share price and Wall Street concerns around disappointing financial guidance.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Since then, Airbnb has aimed to add more hotel listings to its platform, in addition to integrating ride and excursion-booking services to turnaround its lagging stock, according to Wells Fargo.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
On Monday, former state controller Betty Yee dropped out of the race, citing lagging poll numbers and a lack of resources.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Polymarket has surpassed $2 billion in weekly trading volume for eight consecutive weeks, according to data from Artemis, approaching but typically lagging just behind Kalshi’s weekly volume.
—Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
While the total number of absentee voters will likely tick up to reflect those last-minute returns, early voting is lagging previous spring elections.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 8 Apr. 2026
North Carolina currently ranks 50th in the nation in per-student spending and ranked 43rd for teacher pay in 2025, lagging behind neighboring states like South Carolina and Virginia, according to the National Education Association.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The lagging percentage of women film directors last year is a clear sign that the industry is going backward, said Kirsten Schaffer, chief executive of WIF, which advocates for women in Hollywood.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 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
Metrics That Predict, Not Report The lagging nature of HR’s metrics compounds the problem.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Reporting is inconsistent and lagging.
—Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
Tom Steyer has poured more than $100 million into California’s governor’s race — a staggering sum that’s helping vault him into the top tier after months of lagging in the polls.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
As of last April, the state environmental agency was also lagging behind on inspections of polluting facilities, according to the audit.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2026
Netflix has set a big $25 billion stock buyback program as the streaming giant seeks to combat, or take advantage of, a lagging share price and Wall Street concerns around disappointing financial guidance.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Since then, Airbnb has aimed to add more hotel listings to its platform, in addition to integrating ride and excursion-booking services to turnaround its lagging stock, according to Wells Fargo.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
On Monday, former state controller Betty Yee dropped out of the race, citing lagging poll numbers and a lack of resources.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Polymarket has surpassed $2 billion in weekly trading volume for eight consecutive weeks, according to data from Artemis, approaching but typically lagging just behind Kalshi’s weekly volume.
—Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
While the total number of absentee voters will likely tick up to reflect those last-minute returns, early voting is lagging previous spring elections.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 8 Apr. 2026
North Carolina currently ranks 50th in the nation in per-student spending and ranked 43rd for teacher pay in 2025, lagging behind neighboring states like South Carolina and Virginia, according to the National Education Association.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lagging
Adjective
-
He is limited on passing downs and is more of a slow-burn pocket pusher than a man with a plan.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In some cases, lenders may cover the costs of buydown for you (either partially or in full), if the market is particularly slow.—
Aly J Yale,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, commercial-only business districts are fading.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Dust and pollen are quicker to reveal themselves, and wear becomes apparent faster as dark colors are more prone to fading.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That is setting batteries up for a dual role as an enabler to putting more green energy on the grid and delaying the phase-out of fossil fuels.—
Mark Chediak,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was recently defeated in an election, had accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying repairs — an allegation that Zelenskyy denied.—
Karel Janicek,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Director Gay has sculpted a staging that is faithful to a more leisurely 19th-century storytelling style, yet satisfies modern audiences’ constant craving for stimulation.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Evenings brought cocktail hours, nightly presentations about the next day’s destination, and leisurely dinners, followed by time in the lounge.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Onion Grass These invasive weeds are fast-growing and rob your grass of water, nutrients, and sunlight, weakening your garden over time, says Brian Feldman, senior director of technical operations at TruGreen.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Muscle loss and bone weakening Numerous studies have documented that rapid weight loss from Ozempic and other medications can cause significant muscle loss, especially in people who don’t increase their protein intake.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The front glass had been blown out, a support beam knocked askew and ceiling panels sagging inside.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson became the club’s sixth man midway through the 2023-24 campaign when then-coach Gregg Popovich moved him to the bench hoping the the high-energy 29th overall pick of the 2019 draft would energize a sagging second unit.—
Tom Orsborn,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Apr. 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
Cite this Entry
“Lagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lagging. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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