dawdling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of dawdlingnext
as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the dawdling pace of the movie was really making us restless

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dawdling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dawdle
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loafing
to spend time doing nothing accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdling
  1. leisurely
  2. slow
  3. lingering
  4. idling
  5. lounging
  6. poking
  7. resting
  8. playing
Adjective
  • In spite of the leisurely pace of change, To mix valiant drinks for the future.
    Czeslaw Milosz, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
  • With an elegant yet intimate atmosphere, guests will enjoy a leisurely evening of delicious food, good company, and celebration.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of leisurely
Adjective
  • Randle has often been slow to close out on 3-point shooters and inattentive off the ball.
    Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The Israel Defense Forces have been slow to withdraw from their position in the southern part of Lebanon despite a Nov. 27 ceasefire deal that gave the Lebanese Army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon exclusive jurisdiction over the region.
    Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
Definition of slow
Verb
  • Sunday will remain mild with highs near 52 and lingering rain chances.
    Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 24 Dec. 2024
  • In the days since, many people have reported unsafe road conditions and lingering snow — along with uncollected leaf piles from fall leaf collection that were scattered back onto their yards by the snowplows, the council members said.
    Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of lingering
Verb
  • The loud ticking sound when my car is idling.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Dec. 2024
  • My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out the anticipatory purr of two ambulance engines idling nearby.
    Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of idling
Verb
  • The course proved to be a scenic one, as Connor also encountered some local wildlife, including a crocodile lounging by the water at the 13th hole and two antelopes locked in a playful antler battle near a sand trap.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The lookalike pair was later snapped lounging in the venue in ultra-glam outfits that were a change-up from their demure red carpet attire.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • Carter first saw the disease up close in 1988 while visiting a village in Ghana where nearly 350 people had worms poking through their skin.
    Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Dec. 2024
  • At its most basic, a poke cake is made by poking holes into a warm cake and pouring on a frosting or filling mixture.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2024
Definition of poking
Verb
  • During the winter months, your lawn is either growing slowly or resting in dormancy, depending on the climate in your region.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025
  • But the infection typically does improve with resting, drinking fluids and over-the-counter medication.
    Christina Shaw, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of resting
Verb
  • Further factions emerge from there, as people start playing the game within the Squid Game, forming pockets of friendships and alliances, real and fake.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 26 Dec. 2024
  • The World Junior tournament is always good for some surprises; a couple of unexpected players emerging as top scorers or playing well in big moments, or a traditional top nation getting upset in the medal round.
    Corey Pronman, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of playing
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near dawdling

dawdles

dawdling

dawn

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Cite this Entry

“Dawdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdling. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of dawdling for Spanish Speakers

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