as in drags
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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Recent Examples of lingers
The threat of death always lingers – just ask my wooden stairs.
—
David Oliver, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The Panama Canal is experiencing an uptick in traffic and generating more lucrative bids to transit the trade artery, aligning with a spike in demand for its reservation system as the Iran war lingers and uncertainty persists regarding the safety of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
Although the factory was shut down in 2014, the damage lingers.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the scent lingers in your beard, and many people specifically appreciate that effect.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
While some rain lingers overnight into the pre-sunrise hours on Saturday, things will dry out just in time for the weekend.
—Michael Autovino, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
So while nothing may happen right away, the exposure can create risk that lingers.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
But rewatching it now—with a sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, arriving May 1—what lingers alongside the dialogue is the city to which it was indelibly pinned.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
But Sydney Sweeney delivers the line with such genuine curiosity that the question falls onto us and lingers like so much iridescent body glitter.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
David Oliver, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The Panama Canal is experiencing an uptick in traffic and generating more lucrative bids to transit the trade artery, aligning with a spike in demand for its reservation system as the Iran war lingers and uncertainty persists regarding the safety of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
Although the factory was shut down in 2014, the damage lingers.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Sometimes the scent lingers in your beard, and many people specifically appreciate that effect.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026
While some rain lingers overnight into the pre-sunrise hours on Saturday, things will dry out just in time for the weekend.
—Michael Autovino, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
So while nothing may happen right away, the exposure can create risk that lingers.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
But rewatching it now—with a sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, arriving May 1—what lingers alongside the dialogue is the city to which it was indelibly pinned.
—Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
But Sydney Sweeney delivers the line with such genuine curiosity that the question falls onto us and lingers like so much iridescent body glitter.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingers
Verb
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The trio pulled up on e-bikes, drove up to the entrance of the Information Center and began shouting and taking pictures, pausing to take drags off a vape while peering through the shuttered doors.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Work fewer than 35 years and the SSA plugs zeros into the missing slots, which drags your benefit down.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Frey vetoed the ordinance, arguing that an eviction pause does not actually provide relief and only delays an inevitable problem.—
Aki Nace,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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The plan also maintains full scope Medi-Cal for asylees and other immigrant groups who were cut out of Medicaid by the federal government and delays Medi-Cal premiums for undocumented immigrants that would otherwise begin on July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Think about how often your toddler crawls near the dog bed or your kids toss pet toys around the living room.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The script lightly pokes fun at the lofty ambitions of theater-makers who aim to change lives through their art, while ultimately affirming the power of theater to lift people’s spirits.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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The clip also pokes fun at Roach's retirement announcement in 2023, only to return to the industry two years later.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lingers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingers. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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