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

lag 1 of 3

verb

Definition of lag

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

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

Some saw the county’s online wait-time map lag behind real conditions, and on Tuesday the county said election workers were going to up the voting queue every 10 minutes instead of every 20. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026 China’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter thanks to the country’s powerful export machine, with domestic consumption still lagging and the authorities showing little interest in fiscal stimulus. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Adjective

However, his skill level and feel lag way behind his athletic indicators. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 June 2026 Get worse over the next few weeks, but that still – that has a lag effect. — CBS News, 4 May 2026

Noun

But with a complex chip like the RTX Spark, which features an Arm CPU, a dedicated NPU, and a massive number of Blackwell Tensor cores, basic scheduling systems would cause lag and burn through your battery life. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 The entire system has to run on a tiny computer on the drone, light enough not to slow the drone down and efficient enough not to introduce lag. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lag

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lag

Verb

That terrible scenario that doesn't easily fade definitely caused everyone to believe Quinn was at it again on Monday night – messing up again, forgetting that the last play was fourth down instead of third down.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Yet, in the urban South, recent linguistic research finds that the drawl’s most salient features are starting to fade on the lips of young speakers.

— Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of fade

Verb

The tests could easily do the opposite, as people with results suggesting cancer require follow-up testing that overwhelms our healthcare system, potentially delaying diagnoses for people with cancer.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
The game was one of many across the Southland delayed or postponed by lightning, particularly in Orange County.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of delay

Adjective

Junior finance candidates at GoCardless used to be given a data set and a copy of Excel as part of the final round of testing.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Future vehicles will also be able to check their electrical connections during assembly, potentially eliminating a final electrical validation step.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of final

Noun

With enormous amounts of debt on its balance sheet, the company is vulnerable to sharp moves in interest rates, as well as any signs of a slowdown in the data center buildout.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Elon Musk ordered the Starlink slowdown that hindered Kyiv’s defense last week, US officials told The Wall Street Journal, an episode that punctuated a stunning breakdown in US-Ukraine ties.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of slowdown

Verb

China’s surging shipments are much more than just surplus production, the difference between what comes out of Chinese factories and what can be sold domestically in a sagging economy.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
In the grayness that should have been sunrise that morning, dark clouds sagged baggily over the very treetops, bulging as if ready to split under their liquid weight.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of sag

Verb

Coming out of Saturday's showdown in Austin, those questions are going to linger over the next five to six weeks.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Moton lingered on the turf for a while, punching the turf in pain and dread, before a cart came out to transport him to the locker room.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of linger

Adjective

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
The American Western drama is the latest of Taylor Sheridan's ever-growing Yellowstone franchise surrounding the legacy of the Dutton family from west of the Mississippi.

— Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Feb. 2023

Definition of latest

Noun

After some hesitation, the co-anchor finally placed his crown on his head.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The slowdown in investment was put down to government hesitation over changes to Italy’s domestic tax incentive for TV shows and films.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitation

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ladyships

lag

laggard

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Style

“Lag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lag. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lag

verb

adjective

noun

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