dragging 1 of 2

adjective

as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed a mysterious, cloaked figure with a strange, dragging walk

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dragging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of drag
1
as in pulling
to cause to follow by applying steady force on the deliveryman dragged the barrels over against the wall

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2
as in delaying
to move or act slowly one of the climbers was beginning to drag

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in crawling
to move slowly the play dragged and seemed to take forever to get to its predictable conclusion

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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 dragging
Verb
That wider perspective matters, because sovereignty isn't achieved simply by dragging every service into the spare room. — New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026 The video opens with Itami dragging a half-conscious Burke by his legs and delivering him to a young couple on a crime spree. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 McDonald’s stock has fallen more than 11% this year, dragging its market cap down to roughly $191 billion. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026 My goal was closing out a product decision that had been dragging for two weeks. — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Towa might not share her girlfriend’s passion for musicals, but that hasn’t stopped Rapp from dragging her to them anyway. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026 But Kova is shocked to discover her sweetheart taking up with someone new, who may be linked to the monsters dragging Stormwatch’s inhabitants into the ocean. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026 Set the boundary, handle one domestic loose end, then choose joy without dragging guilt behind you. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 This seems especially true if there are hiccups in correct window measurement or ordering, which can lead to long delays and projects dragging on and on. — Jason Rueger, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dragging
  1. leisurely
  2. pulling
  3. delaying
  4. crawling
  5. slow
  6. hauling
  7. lingering
  8. creeping
Adjective
  • These are communities where leisurely mornings are encouraged, and rocking chairs on front porches are plentiful.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
  • All talk of business and politics are set aside in favor of conversations about food and other leisurely pursuits.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of leisurely
Verb
  • That said, pulling one off takes a bit more intention than simply slipping it on.
    — Alyssa Rotunno, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026
  • By pulling the air over its surface, the system prevents airflow separation that normally limits conventional sails.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of pulling
Verb
  • Sacramento Regional Transit will adjust six bus routes beginning Sunday, including delaying departure times and eliminating one early-morning trip from Florin.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The discovery prevented the plane from being moved on schedule, delaying a flight and forcing JetBlue to use a different aircraft instead, according to the affidavit, an interruption estimated to cost the airline over $2,400.
    — Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of delaying
Verb
  • The feat, says study coauthor and NSO senior scientist Friedrich Wöger, is equivalent to seeing ants crawling on Earth’s surface from an altitude of 100 miles (about 160 km).
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026
  • If your garden has been beset by destructive crawling insects like ants, beetles, and slugs, pesticides often seem like the clear solution.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of crawling
Adjective
  • Researchers used the device to process time-series data, including signals that contained both rapid and slow changes.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026
  • However, there is another, slower and more insidious evacuation taking place, and that is the steady migration from rural areas all around the world to burgeoning cities, which now host more than half the world’s population.
    — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow
Verb
  • DeKalb County Sheriff's officials said, shortly after noon, a 2025 Mazda CX-5, a Mack semi-tractor trailer hauling gravel, and a 2013 Nissan Altima collided at the intersection of Illinois Route 23 and Melms Road.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • If life includes hauling a small child in a safety seat, the CLA’s rear door frame will be a challenge when hoisting out or placing a small child.
    — Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of hauling
Verb
  • In astrology, Venus governs love, pleasure, money, relationships and values, while Pluto exposes what’s lingering beneath the surface.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Any lingering hope that Netanyahu could be convinced to take part in such an endeavor now looks for the birds.
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of lingering
Verb
  • There are no shortage of issues with this club, but one that is creeping back into its clubhouse, and the franchise, is comfort.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The prospect of deploying fully autonomous drones on the battlefield may seem to be creeping closer.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of creeping

Browse Nearby Words

draggers
dragging
dragging one's feet
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Cite this Entry

“Dragging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dragging. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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