1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly
if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dawdle
Flight attendants turned into drill sergeants, barking at passengers who flouted mask rules or dawdled too long eating that snack with the mask off.
—
Thomas Black,
Twin Cities,
21 Dec. 2025
My request to ownership is don’t dawdle.
—
Dp Opinion,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Ticket availability is scant as of this writing, don’t dawdle (with Jon Muq.
—
Aaron Davis,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Is there some reason to postpone or dawdle on aiming for better for Milwaukee kids?
—
Alan J. Borsuk,
jsonline.com,
26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dawdle
Thomas Black,
Twin Cities,
21 Dec. 2025
My request to ownership is don’t dawdle.
—
Dp Opinion,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Ticket availability is scant as of this writing, don’t dawdle (with Jon Muq.
—
Aaron Davis,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Is there some reason to postpone or dawdle on aiming for better for Milwaukee kids?
—
Alan J. Borsuk,
jsonline.com,
26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dawdle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdle
Verb
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Still, some experts say the lack of awareness may delay some eligible adults from taking advantage of the new coverage and getting on the treatments immediately.
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The last time Colombia played at Miami Stadium, the 2024 Copa América final against Argentina was delayed more than 75 minutes after a security breach involving ticketless fans, with some appearing to enter through air vents.
Verb
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At the same time, the sounds of idling diesel work truck engines have replaced that of dozens of fire trucks that had been stationed there for days.
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The second album this year from metalcore pioneers Converge is named for a mysterious, pulsing, low-frequency ambient drone, likened by those who hear it to a diesel engine, an idling airplane, or a kind of inescapable torture.
Verb
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The town’s predicament highlights the limits of any ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, and the lingering hardship faced by residents whose lives have been upended by years of conflict.
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Robertson answered any lingering questions about his game with his franchise-caliber play.
Verb
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Zermatt is compact, scenic, and blissfully free of traffic noise, so strolling between cafes, shops, and trailheads is half the fun.
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Strait strolled out on stage, drawing cheers.
Verb
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Seltz’s system crawls hundreds of millions of pages a day, and returns results in under 200 milliseconds.
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The animal eventually crawled under a dock.
Verb
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The sense of just how much there is to do in this part of the world—the length of the scale between lazing and becoming ultra-active—is palpable.
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Instead of setting up a spot on the sand, beachgoers typically pitch their chairs in the shallow clear blue water and laze the day away.
Verb
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Especially someone that can drag his man around a little bit, take attention away from Anthony (Edwards).
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Ennis enters as the betting favorite, but Zayas owns size and reach edges and has vowed to drag the fight into the deep, physical championship rounds.
Verb
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An old recording studio, still adorned with a grand piano, now exists more as a lounging space.
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There were plush white sofas in almost every room, with guests lounging and kicking up their feet after trekking around the massive space.
Cite this Entry
“Dawdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdle. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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