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
-
Congress allocated money for it, but billions of dollars were delayed due to the shutdown.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026 -
Bogey’s Image, ridden by Teddy Davies, appeared to win, only for a lengthy stewards’ inquiry to delay the result as spectators waited along the rails.—
Michael Howes,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Teachers are certainly no strangers to cheating.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Everyone in this film has got a con (or five), lying and cheating non-stop, but Wilder doesn't pass judgment.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Officers poked a hole in the bag and found the elder Ordonez's body.—
Annasofia Scheve,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
France has one of the highest top income tax rates in the European Union and Briere’s treatment sparked a flurry of social media commentary in France, with some poking fun at the taxman’s pursuit of the government’s dues.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Focusing on everyday shapewear, Yummie hugs instead of squeezes like traditional shapewear that can be extremely tight and constrictive.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
All movies need a 45-day exclusive theatrical window, because small and mid-budget movies that hit streaming sooner are getting squeezed.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its slow pace raised concerns about how long the storm would linger in the region, and the amount of damage that could cause.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His remarks came as uncertainty still lingers about how long the Iran war would last.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With its cast of characters essentially plucked from Fugard’s early life in Port Elizabeth, the play introduces Hally (a stand-in for Fugard) at a crossroads.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Winners are plucked by a steering committee that zeroes in on recipients based on biography, impact and visionary practices.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The officer grabbed me and said 'you're arrested,' and just put me in handcuffs and drug and dragged me out.—
Mahsa Saeidi,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The sharp, plumb bow and the hull that slowly widens aft, for example, reduce resistance and drag.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The screw-in stake is 16 inches long with a sharp tip and an easy-grip rubber handle.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Semi-screwed There’s a world in which Colby was the most screwed over by the rock draw — because Dee and Emily are friends who already played together, and both were aligned with Cirie — but that world is one in which he was not injured and likely limping out of the game anyway.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Diddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddle. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
