lag 1 of 3

adjective

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lag

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to fade
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 to delay
to move or act slowly the tired puppy was lagging behind the rest of the pack

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lag

3 of 3

noun

as in slowdown

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
Adjective
With Baja mode activated, the twin-turbo V-6 engages the turbochargers' anti-lag function, and there's negligible delay in the power delivery during the quick on/off throttle sequences common to desert running. —David Beard, Car and Driver, 20 June 2022 And some more good news for lovers of the distinctive fusillade produced by the original Impreza rally cars: this one keeps anti-lag, injecting fuel into the turbocharger to keep it spinning off-throttle. —Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 21 June 2022
Verb
Iowa lags behind many of its Big Ten competitors in providing NIL resources, which in part was because of a growing disconnect between the fans and the program. —Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025 After bird flu began to spread rapidly in dairy cattle, then infect farmworkers, the Biden administration lagged in its attempts to track and contain the virus, then largely left decisions about testing cows for the pathogen—the most effective way to track its spread—up to individual farmers. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
The input lag is the most important metric for some shoppers when deciding on a monitor. —PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025 Alex Condon beat me at 2K, but the input lag on the TV was going on. —Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lag
  1. final
  2. fade
  3. delay
  4. slowdown
  5. latest
  6. sag
  7. drag
  8. hesitation
Adjective
  • These concerns appeared to strike a chord—at least in part—with U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken, who brought up the issue several times during this week’s fairness hearing over whether to grant the settlement’s final approval.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The squad soon discovers the job is a suicide mission and must choose between redemption or the final termination of their close brotherhood.
    — Lesley O'Toole, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of final
Verb
  • Curiosity fades fast when people don’t feel safe to use it.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • As the skin became more brittle, the hair fell out and the fatty layer beneath began to show more through the years, the white color faded, researchers said.
    — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of fade
Verb
  • China’s chief antitrust regulator is currently reviewing the BlackRock-Hutchison deal, effectively delaying the transaction before it was expected to be signed on April 2.
    — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Apr. 2025
  • What may happen is a pause by some companies in shipping goods to the U.S. Automaker Jaguar Land Rover and gaming outfit Nintendo have already announced a change of plans; the former is pausing shipment of its cars for a month, and Nintendo delayed pre-orders for its new Switch 2 console.
    — Giacomo Tognini, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of delay
Noun
  • The March survey, forecasters say, will likely reveal a continuing slowdown in job growth that reflects the fading of a post-pandemic hiring burst as well as some growing business uncertainty about the import fees.
    — Paul Davidson, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Luxury, for instance, has seen the US as its most resilient market in a global slowdown.
    — Marc Bain and Joan Kennedy, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of slowdown
Adjective
  • The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
    — Joey Cappelletti and Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
  • The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
Definition of latest
Verb
  • The sagging sales could be due to several factors, including the backlash, but also Tesla’s brand changes in the past few years.
    — Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 2 Apr. 2025
  • His sagging defense at the top of the key, while chasing to the rim for rebounds undermines switching and spacing.
    — Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of sag
Verb
  • The average is dragged lower by the three most recent economic contractions, which were all atypical.
    — Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Watkins combines that with intelligent runs in behind, dragging defenders with him.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of drag
Noun
  • Issues related to social justice, politics, sustainability, and mental health regularly intersect with entertainment stories, placing celebrities under pressure to publicly take stances on divisive topics, often without room for error or hesitation.
    — Ethan Stone, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
  • That view on business hesitation was backed up Tuesday in an Institute for Supply Management survey in which respondents cited the uncertain climate as an obstacle to growth.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of hesitation

Browse Nearby Words

ladyships
lag
laggard
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Cite this Entry

“Lag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lag. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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