1
as in delayed
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 lazied
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
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Recent Examples of dawdled
Fava snuffled and dawdled and took her own sweet time up the sidewalk.
—
Dan Kois, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
Dan Kois, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdled
Verb
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Republicans refused to pass a funding bill that funded the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while Obama and Democrats pushed back on proposals put forth by GOP lawmakers that would have defunded or delayed it.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Russian state media has acknowledged the Belgorod was also delayed in part by the pandemic.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After improvements in passenger totals in 2021, 2022, and 2023, San Jose and Oakland both began to suffer slumps in 2024 and the weakening pattern has lingered well into 2025, a review of official airport statistics shows.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Still, despite the trauma-thirsty embrace of Luke’s story from the media, the music lingered.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In that pic, Fletcher lounged on the end, giving a thumbs up.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
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As the action took place, the fashionable crowd lounged on the beautifully landscaped outdoor dining area, grazing on the pies and taking pictures of the sea.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Though some institutions have welcomed workers’ unions, others have dragged their feet.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 Nov. 2025
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Knocked unconscious, Will is then dragged by the Demogorgon to the lair of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After the players strolled onto the field through an opening in center field, rapper Ice Cube, a huge Dodger fan, drove a vintage blue Chevy convertible containing the World Series trophy.—
Steve Futterman,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
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On a recent Friday night, families strolled through an outdoor carnival, eating ice cream, while children rode amusement rides.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One live roach crawled on the floor near the kitchen door.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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Roaring out of the gates in Set 2, the Raiders mounted a commanding 10-2 lead, but the Storm went blow for blow with the Raiders and crawled back into the set.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Whoopi Goldberg, Emily Blunt and Natasha Lyonne were among the stars expressing their outrage, while Ryan Reynolds poked fun at Tilly in his new Mint Mobile ad.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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Low branches poked at the roof of our boat and brushed our arms.—
Idra Novey,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But for now, idled IRS workers aren’t applying thumbscrews to taxpayers.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
28 Oct. 2025
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And in Michigan, Cliffs owns and operates the Tilden Mine near Ishpeming and the adjacent Empire Mine, which has been idled since 2016.—
Jimmy Lovrien,
Twin Cities,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dawdled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdled. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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