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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
  • Peterson agreed without hesitation to stay on and help with the funeral, delaying the start of his new position by two weeks.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • While some homeowners like to overseed warm-season lawns with a cool-season grass to keep the lawn green all winter, overseeding a permanent warm-season lawn with cool-season grasses may actually weaken it by delaying next spring’s early growth.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of delay
Verb
  • After a 7-6 debut season as the Volunteers head coach in 2009, Kiffin endeared himself to the Tennessee fan base by accusing former Florida coach Urban Meyer of cheating during a recruiting battle.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Blatant, in-your-face lying, cheating and stealing is the norm.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • Flip and continue to cook until the flesh begins to flake when poked with a fork, 1 to 2 minutes.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Don’t bury the rhizomes when planting—the tops should just poke above the soil surface.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • That polarization helped squeeze other mainstream parties, including the CDU.
    — Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • What fascinates me most isn't simply whether Wagner can squeeze 621 miles out of this massive battery.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • But now there’s the lingering unknown amid a fight that can feel endless.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The film’s cast is mostly made up of tribal non-actors, but Anghlong Konyak is its captivating center, as a man whose stubbornness against change sits alongside a lingering grief over his fading way of life.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of linger
Verb
  • Her words, as if plucked from a Sunday morning sermon, speak to the source of her strength.
    — Nicole Avery Nichols, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Trump sometimes plucks memes from a sprawling ecosystem of online conservative supporters, and sometimes his government staff produces them as part of their official messaging.
    — Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • Over the past 12 months, the stock has fallen 18%, dragging McDonald's market value down to about $175 billion.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Those votes are increasingly challenging for some GOP senators as the war drags on.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Sometimes a lid isn’t screwed tightly, and your foundation proves its worth all over the inside of your bag.
    — Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Julian is played with winning charm by Daniel Ings in a role that stretches him from his usual parts, like the buffoonish screw-up brother in the series The Gentlemen.
    — Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 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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did by
diddle
diddled
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Cite this Entry

“Diddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddle. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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