1
as in delayed
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 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
Verb
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Ten other airlines delayed between one and 19 flights.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025 -
The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 Monday to begin charging parking fees in Balboa Park for the first time, but council members delayed the start date by several months and granted many park users some major concessions.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Passed over to his hapless son (Dacre Montgomery), our (anti-)hero wires a shotgun to his head and takes him hostage, claiming that the organization’s business maneuvers cheated him out of a substantial fortune.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
5 Sep. 2025
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The woman lives alone, AFP added, citing local media outlets, and was ultimately cheated out of approximately 1 million yen, or about $6,700.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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No movie poked holes in the stereotypical puffy rock-star ego more effectively than Spinal Tap did, and there are legions of fans who have the film almost completely memorized.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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After the cyberstalking ordeal came to an end and started making national news, the Wilsons poked fun at Kendra's fate by dressing up a scarecrow in a prison jumpsuit with a mask of her mugshot over its face, per The Cut.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Farnaz Farjam, one of the show’s executive producers, told Deadline that the production hustled to find a way to capture all three elements.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
1 Sep. 2025
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The band hustled to build their social-media accounts, play shows, and produce a new EP.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Homeland Security officials said Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez resisted arrest and dragged an officer in his car.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a man who resisted arrest and dragged the officer during a vehicle stop in a Chicago suburb Friday morning, according to the Department of Homeland Security.—
Priscilla Alvarez,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yet there’s a relaxed comfort to dinner in the airy concrete-floored loft, starting with the Taiwanese sausage that arrives as an early bite, wedged into homemade brioche like a tiny hot dog and plucked up between two fingers.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Orioles plucked him in the Rule 5 draft after a tragic plane crash claimed their top catching prospect.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The same cautious and concerned mood that overshadowed the start of the Fall/Winter 2026-2027 denim season in April lingered through to its final event.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Sep. 2025
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But inside, the pain of tumbling from first to 19th lingered.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point, Detroit squeezed 38 points out of six possessions, turning a close game into a major reality check for the Bears.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Why American farmers are feeling squeezed It's been a tough year for America's farmers.—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Diddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddled. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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