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diddled

verb

past tense of diddle
1
as in dragged
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 cheated
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 diddled
  1. dragged
  2. cheated
  3. delayed
  4. hustled
  5. lingered
  6. squeezed
  7. poked
  8. plucked
Verb
  • The sophomore set him down outside the door of the boys varsity locker room, and a 15-year-old grabbed the victim’s ankles, dragged him inside and held him down, the boy told police.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026
  • My brother is lying on the floor, as if thrown down and dragged there.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of dragged
Verb
  • The producers’ suit appeared to sputter out in 2022, when a judge ruled that they were not cheated out of profits and that AMC had sued a standard definition.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Times has interviewed more than a dozen clients and investors who said they were cheated by Holdo.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheated
Verb
  • Combined, the three had 14 space exploration missions that were proposed to be canceled or delayed, the report stated.
    — Eric Niiler, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Two companies in the AI ecosystem have delayed their IPOs, the latest sign that investor appetite for the trade is uneven at best.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of delayed
Verb
  • Her mother hustled her to hospital, only for the doctors to realize Accurso’s active imagination had left her in the same predicament as Madeline’s friends.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
  • In the press box, Ravens assistants hustled downstairs to join the celebration.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of hustled
Verb
  • Bethann Hardison, Tara Rudes Dann, and Lauren Kulchinsky Levison were amongst those who lingered over the work, taking in the intricate details.
    — Ruby Ford-Dunker, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Fast-food staples like McDonald’s became a low-cost refuge where seniors lingered over morning coffee, students gathered after school and young kids frolicked in play areas.
    — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of lingered
Verb
  • With Hamas squeezed, Netanyahu asked the Qataris to commit to official monthly payments to Gaza.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • News organizations large and small are being squeezed like never before.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeezed
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
  • He was poked in the eye and was cleared to return but Darius Curry was moving the team.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of poked
Verb
  • Those also turned to boos on Strand’s first NFL pass, which Horn deflected and Lloyd plucked out of the air at close range.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026
  • According to Anderson, a key part of the Patriots’ winning formula was Brady’s sense that Belichick had plucked him from obscurity.
    — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of plucked
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.

Browse Nearby Words

diddle
diddled
diddled (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Diddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddled. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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