1
as in delays
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 lazes
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 dawdles
But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdles
Verb
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John Malkovich shows up for a tangent that is meant to be expositional, but really only needlessly delays what’s coming.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
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Others say that approach risks keeping critical documents under wraps and delays a fuller accounting.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Blur left audiences stunned and speechless, a hybrid of theater and XR that lingers as memory more than story.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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The tension lingers throughout the meal, leaving the family divided.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The North Carolina General Assembly returned Tuesday for the first time since last month, as a budget stalemate between the House and Senate drags on.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Aug. 2025
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But as the contest drags on, his resolve starts to crumble.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Also, closing your mouth a bit relaxes your jaw muscles and gives you more space back there.—
Elizabeth Cohen,
NBC news,
24 Aug. 2025
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But the new guidance relaxes those limits.—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, the dog hilariously crawls under the blanket, which had slipped down the side of his crate, and ends up pulling it completely off.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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Dead Bug Ab-cross crawls support overall ab strength.—
Health Editorial Team,
Health,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But, a year later, Springer rests at the opposite end of baseball’s leaderboards.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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The genocide allegation also rests on claims that Israel intentionally targeted civilians, but the study acknowledges civilian deaths while finding no evidence of a systematic policy of massacre.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The brand’s giant green owl mascot dances badly, makes obscure pop culture references and pokes fun at the company’s push notifications.—
Leeron Walter,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Like his contemporaries, Meyers often pokes fun at the ongoing actions of the president and his administration on Late Night.—
Emlyn Travis Updated,
EW.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Regina King strolls into Joanne Hendricks Cookbooks on the hunt for classic hors d’oeuvres recipes.—
Elizabeth Wellington,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dawdles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdles. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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