dawdles

verb

present tense third-person singular of dawdle
1
as in lingers
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 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dawdles But Koreeda dawdles over all that without ever finding much dramatic nuance, making for a dullish midsection. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdles
  1. lingers
  2. idles
  3. delays
  4. relaxes
  5. drags
  6. rests
  7. crawls
  8. strolls
Verb
  • Smoke lingers over the charred ground as flames burn through the brush while Spokane Valley Fire Department crews respond to the Autumn Lane Fire on Monday.
    — Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • High temps have peaked, but heat still lingers The heat wave this weekend was due to an intense heat dome — a mass of high pressure all the way through the higher altitudes of the atmosphere — peaking over Southern California.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of lingers
Verb
  • As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
  • Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of idles
Verb
  • His isolation is not that of a man locked up in a room but a man who delays going into that room for as long as possible.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The person who delays repayment may create tension, even if unintentionally.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of delays
Verb
  • When a leader asks thoughtful questions instead of giving immediate answers, the room relaxes.
    — Duncan Wardle, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Michael Jordan relaxes with a refreshing beverage while vacationing in Sardinia, Italy on July 13.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of relaxes
Verb
  • Seconds later, Blanka drags another inmate out of the cage, demonstrating his electric powers.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 July 2026
  • Priscilla screams for her son, but Dutch drags her back to the car.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of drags
Verb
  • The offense rests on the health of the veteran Matthew Stafford.
    — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Enforcement rests exclusively with the Illinois attorney general.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • Markets do not hold still for a year and a half while your deal crawls through due diligence.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Footage of the moment shows Menitoff acting as if nothing is happening as the bug crawls on her.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026
Definition of crawls
Verb
  • Except, that is, when a breezy new prospect strolls in and reminds us why the genre has been a TV mainstay decade after decade.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
  • That said, to ensure your pooch gets to romp around in the summer sun, too, add the Town of Falmouth Dog Park to your list for off-leash fun, and The Knob for leashed, shoreline strolls.
    — Rebecca R. Norris, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of strolls

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Cite this Entry

“Dawdles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdles. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dawdles

Nglish: Translation of dawdles for Spanish Speakers

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