laggard 1 of 2

adjective

ˈla-gərd How to pronounce laggard (audio)
Definition of laggardnext
as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed I hate being stuck behind laggard drivers on the freeway

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

laggard

2 of 2

noun

as in snail
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others tried to spur on the laggards at the back of the line during the hike

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 laggard
Adjective
Its laggard incubation period gives us a full 21 days to intervene between exposure and disease. — Abdul El-Sayed, The New Republic, 29 Sep. 2022 However, the American pandemic response has also been faulted for an at times laggard pace at tracking and analyzing the spread of the virus compared to its counterparts abroad. — Alexander Tin, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2022
Noun
By the time the laggards begin, that gap may be categorical rather than incremental. — Manu Khetan, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 Two-thirds of the elite group also saw a measured business outcome within six months from when a pilot kicked off, versus 31% of the laggards. — John Kell, Fortune, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for laggard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laggard
  1. leisurely
  2. snail
  3. slow
  4. lagging
  5. sluggish
Adjective
  • Take in its beauty at a leisurely pace atop a paddleboard or in a kayak borrowed from Aloha Paddle Lake Norman, which offers rentals and beginner-friendly lessons.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
  • The relaxed and roomy silhouette is perfect for keeping you comfortable on long strolls and during leisurely lunches, and pairs beautifully with everything from flip flops to comfy loafers or heeled sandals.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Definition of leisurely
Noun
  • Calendula Calendula’s fleshy leaves, stems, and flowers also draw slugs and snails away from other crops and can be interplanted in food or flower gardens for natural slug control.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
  • The game was crawling along at a snail’s pace with a rare boundary here and there.
    — Mohsin Kamal, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Definition of snail
Adjective
  • There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of slow
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
Definition of lagging
Adjective
  • Many competitors often report feeling sluggish, sleepy, or uncomfortable afterward.
    — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Merz’s coalition of center-right and center-left parties took office just over a year ago with pledges to reform and turn around Germany’s sluggish economy, Europe’s biggest.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of sluggish

Browse Nearby Words

lag
laggard
laggardly
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Cite this Entry

“Laggard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laggard. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on laggard

Nglish: Translation of laggard for Spanish Speakers

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