LAGS Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

lags 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lag

as in fades

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

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as in delays

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lags

2 of 2

noun

plural of lag

as in slowdowns

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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 lags

Verb

Some states, most notably California, are helping to pick up the slack, but investment still lags behind potential. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026 With early signals that are ambiguous and without a clear shock, mobilization lags. — Raj Panjabi, Time, 13 Oct. 2026 Domestic chipmakers are racing to catch up, but their tech still lags the US – and supplies of their cutting-edge models are tight. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Unwinding properly is about creating a sanctuary where your daily chores vanish, your Wi-Fi never lags, and your entertainment sounds like pure gold. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026 Pennsylvania, which lags behind almost every other state in funding legal defense for poor people, known as indigent defense, dedicates no money for post-trial work. — Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026 First, independent voters’ turnout in midterms usually lags behind that of party members. — Julio Borquez, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 Pricing and Valuation calculations in particular can’t simply be rerun after the fact; if the feed supplying them lags or drops a field during a cutover, the ripple shows up in financial statements, not a support ticket. — Sanchet Pachpute, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 But foster care lags far behind in adopting the new thinking, said psychologist Karyn Harvey. — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lags

Verb

Duncan says the initial shock usually fades after a round or two, and cycling back and forth multiple times yields better results.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026
The stigma fades Adults playing with toys used to be a punchline.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of fades

Verb

Even if Illinois delays its natural gas plant closings, the state will need more batteries, and Richardson is rushing to provide them.

— John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
In this scenario, the heart attack now drives the pricing, while the prostate cancer delays the application.

— Howard Wolinsky, STAT, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of delays

Noun

The move comes amid a global shortage largely attributed to slowdowns of the passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
While iPhone sales increased an impressive 21% in the most recent quarter, the business has experienced significant slowdowns in recent years, with sales even declining in some quarters.

— Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of slowdowns

Verb

Afternoon highs on Friday are expected to be a much cooler 57 degrees as a 40% chance of rainfall lingers in the area.

— Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2026
That rinse-clean standard matters for anyone worried about buildup, since a scalp oil that lingers after washing can leave hair looking greasy rather than nourished.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of lingers

Noun

The rapper blazed through an eight-song set in 18 minutes, taking only brief pauses to shout out her backing musicians and, at one point, remark on the lack of Maryland crab cakes in her rider.

— Walden Green, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Nicole Durkin pauses while talking about her son Michael, 16, at her home in Valparaiso, Indiana, Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

— Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of pauses

Verb

Unfortunately, using too little paint will leave patchy areas and harsh lines, and using too much paint will promote drips and paint that sags.

— Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 6 July 2026
There is no scrapeable archive of how to grasp a wet cup, unload a box that sags in the middle, fold a towel, or help an older adult out of a chair.

— Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Definition of sags

Verb

However, Fed officials fear that the longer the war drags on, the higher the likelihood that the spike will make its way through the broader economy and become embedded in consumer and business expectations.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
As the comet rotates, fresh ice enters the sunlight and sublimates; the escaping gas then drags entrained dust particles away from the nucleus.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of drags

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lagoons

lags

laical

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“Lags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lags. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lags

verb

noun

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