diddle

verb

ˈdi-dᵊl How to pronounce diddle (audio)
Definition of diddlenext
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

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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
  1. delay
  2. cheat
  3. poke
  4. squeeze
  5. linger
  6. pluck
  7. drag
  8. screw
Verb
  • That James would also partner with Draymond Green, a former adversary, current friend and ally that delayed his free agency to give the Warriors additional cap space to secure James.
    — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • But the Mavericks would prefer to trade Thompson than buy him out, and that could delay or eliminate this option for Miami unless Thompson pushes for a buyout in the weeks ahead, something that remains a possibility.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • The rumors of cheating with addresses and recruiting players have run rampant, but many schools do it.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
  • The story of a cheating husband's double life racked up more than 23 million views in its first month, reaching the top ten in 62 countries, including the US, and the number one spot in almost two dozen countries.
    — Kate Bartlett, NPR, 24 July 2026
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • Defense attorneys Blair Berk and Marilyn Bednarski did their best to poke holes in all this testimony during cross examination, and even tried to slip in wholesome details like Burke’s religious upbringing.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026
  • Instead, her dad looks under the table and sees a jumble of limbs with Chastain’s smiling face poking out at him.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • Barbara Rainey, a Cherry resident of 76 years, said a school bus hit her cousin’s car while trying to squeeze between vehicles parked on either side.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Tournament football isn’t generally conducive to pressing, with so many matches squeezed into such a short window, and without the cohesion that comes from club sides training together for months.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • Lee’s elbow guard protected him from being hit directly on the bone, but Vitello said there was still some lingering soreness.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 July 2026
  • Some residents expressed concerns about pollution, the traffic congestion, the dangers of errant drivers around kids and the lingering aroma of frying food.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of linger
Verb
  • Alix Earle, and her younger sister Ashtin, have given the skinny brow trend their own proverbial thumbs up, plucking away their natural shape over the last year.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
  • The clip, plucked out of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, spread like wildfire through the digital landscape.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • The European Space Agency’s ClearSpace-1, planned for 2029, tackles the harder case by capturing the unprepared, noncooperative Proba-1 satellite and dragging it down to burn up.
    — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • Hellerstein appeared skeptical that the parties would resolve all classified-information questions by June, noting that the process can drag on.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Shanghai Electric also displayed several core robotic components, including a planetary roller screw that the company says can handle more than three times the load of conventional ball screws.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
  • Is this guy just saying we were screwed before, and we're still screwed now, just with more velocity?
    — RJ Friedman, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of screw
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.

Phrases Containing diddle

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diddle
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Cite this Entry

“Diddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddle. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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