1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly
even though the hurricane was fast approaching, federal and local politicians wasted precious time diddling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
an unscrupulous Broadway producer diddles little old ladies by persuading them to invest in a surefire flop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diddle
Verb
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Rainy weather has delayed the Class 2A baseball state championship series from Saturday to Monday.—
Todd Holcomb,
AJC.com,
24 May 2026 -
Choquette was cruising until that point, having retired 15 straight batters after walking junior Hailey Goode on four pitches to open the game, which was delayed nearly an hour due to lightning in the area.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
Verb
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The book follows the controversy surrounding teenage chess whiz Hans Niemann, who was accused of cheating after beating world champion Magnus Carlsen in a 2022 match.—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
25 May 2026
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Teams often open themselves up defensively when chasing goals, and Vegas has a unique understanding of how to chase without cheating for offense.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Dunne later poked fun at her outburst in an Instagram post on Sunday, May 24, recapping her time at Saturday's game, a 5-2 loss for Skenes' Pirates.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
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Moments after MacKinnon got hurt, Keegan Kolesar deflected a shot off the pipe, then poked the rebound past goalie Scott Wedgewood to tie the score at 3.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Verb
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The advice generated for mental health inquiries can attempt to squeeze a round peg into a square hole, simply because that’s the imbalance of the AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
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But the airline was squeezed at the airport because Spirit occupied many of the gates, especially at prime flying hours.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Then my gaze lingers on the sailors who are steering the boat, their white uniforms dazzling in the sunlight.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
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The finish is moderately long, with lingering notes of caramel, fruit, and a touch of spice.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Etna, a battle-scarred but kindhearted shepherd mix who was plucked from his home on the eve of an unspecified conflict in an unnamed country, has grown weary of war’s brutalities and longs to return to the coastal farm of his puppyhood.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
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The only thing that prevented a shutout was Ross Colton plucking in a rebound off Brent Burns’ sniper off Hart’s chest.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Verb
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For Paul, dragging long sheets of metal was intensive.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
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The United States’ stockpiles of crude oil, gasoline and diesel are falling fast as the war with Iran drags on.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The necessary tools — screw guns, saws, hammers — aren’t easy to come by in San Quentin, California’s oldest prison; the lockup has a long history of violence, gang wars, executions and murder.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
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Food-grade plastic containers that have screw caps, such as 2-liter soda bottles, are best.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Diddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddle. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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