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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As instability rose, the administration reverted to strict state control, detaining opposition figures and journalists while delaying elections.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026 -
Season 3 was delayed due to production issues, including, reportedly, co-creator Jason Sudeikis’ endless rewrites.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Though Lesnar rarely cheats to win, Femi isn’t going to lose clean.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Greg de la Garza, Miami The Republican Party of Florida is cheating and getting away with it.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 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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Freddie Freeman squeezed one inside the left-field foul pole in the first inning, his fourth home run in nine games (after hitting just one in the previous 35 games).—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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The bedroom is now its own separate space—one that Konieczny managed to squeeze more custom storage inside—and despite having to move the shower and toilet, the bathroom is much more functional as well.—
Nicolas Milon,
Architectural Digest,
30 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 2 Jun. 2026.
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