as in residual
still existing or happening after something is completed or removed
The area is still feeling the lingering effects of the hurricane. There are lingering questions about the extent of his involvement in the crime.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of lingering
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
4 July 2026
Any strange or lingering foot symptoms, though, could be a sign of a bigger health condition.
—
Erica Sloan,
Washington Post,
3 July 2026
At night, a show, a movie, a long lingering dinner or even an evening with the stars.
—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Scientists say the combined effects of a lingering marine heatwave and a strengthening El Niño could disrupt food supplies for key species in the California Current, even as coastal upwelling may offer some localized relief.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
However, nights remain short for observers in the northern hemisphere and lingering twilight could make auroras harder to spot.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
And there is lingering uncertainty with captain Dylan Larkin wanting out.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
But for a growing number of older people, those retirement years are arriving with lingering debt problems attached.
—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
So exemplary was Bergeron’s career, on the ice and off, there are no lingering grudges in this or that city, no bills to pay, no scores to settle.
—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Adjective
Thomas missed 57 games last season, mostly because of the same lingering left hamstring issue.
—
C.j. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
On the one hand, that means that many survive the disease without serious lingering effects.
—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
This season, our editors are savoring the activities that take us back to some of our favorite childhood days—jumping off docks, sliding down twisty pool slides, and lingering outside long into the evening.
—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
4 July 2026
Any strange or lingering foot symptoms, though, could be a sign of a bigger health condition.
—
Erica Sloan,
Washington Post,
3 July 2026
At night, a show, a movie, a long lingering dinner or even an evening with the stars.
—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Scientists say the combined effects of a lingering marine heatwave and a strengthening El Niño could disrupt food supplies for key species in the California Current, even as coastal upwelling may offer some localized relief.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
However, nights remain short for observers in the northern hemisphere and lingering twilight could make auroras harder to spot.
—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
2 July 2026
And there is lingering uncertainty with captain Dylan Larkin wanting out.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
But for a growing number of older people, those retirement years are arriving with lingering debt problems attached.
—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
So exemplary was Bergeron’s career, on the ice and off, there are no lingering grudges in this or that city, no bills to pay, no scores to settle.
—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lingering
Adjective
-
With no energy available to warm the planet to these temperatures, the team reasoned that the temperature must be a residual effect of prior warming either from being engulfed by the red giant or during an inward migration.
-
The physical properties of TRISO fuel and gas cooling allow the core to dissipate residual decay heat naturally.
Verb
-
While delaying benefits is typically optimal, a hypothetical 22% cut by 2033 significantly shifts optimal claiming ages for many single individuals, potentially encouraging earlier filing, but often not for married couples.
-
Some workers were granted exemptions, and a handful of departments were delaying implementation of the governor’s mandate.
Adjective
-
Taking the lead in helping Cavalli mature, in ways that have nothing to do with his stuff, would be among their most important and lasting works.
-
The attacks have inflicted lasting damage that will be costly to fix.
Verb
-
Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
-
One small habit that has helped me tremendously is dragging important emails directly into my calendar.
Verb
-
Calderón, a big, bald man wearing a gold chain and cross-shaped earrings, sat off to the side, amid an entourage of muscular assistants in polo shirts, poking at his phone.
-
If their edges are poking out from your ice sphere, your ice will melt and break apart faster.
Verb
-
The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench.
-
Jude Cornell joined a swarm of toddlers crawling after soccer balls, tossing training cones into the air and relocating a goalie net that was proving to be very, very portable.
Verb
-
Costs begin creeping higher, margins get a little tighter and profitability comes under pressure.
-
About 1 million 16-to-24-year-olds now find themselves not in employment, education or training, with levels creeping toward highs not seen since the 2008 financial crash.
Cite this Entry
“Lingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lingering. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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