Synonyms of diddle

diddle 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈdi-dᵊl 

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

• delay
• poke
• linger
• drag
• crawl
• play
• dawdle
• stroll
• loiter
• creep
• mope
• mark time
• shuffle
• lollygag
• drop behind
• fall behind
• lag
• tarry
• hang fire
• stall
• shilly-shally
• dillydally
• lounge
• dally
• idle
• stagger
• take one's time
• drag one's feet
• trifle
• saunter
• amble
• fiddle (around)
• fool around
• hang (around or out)
• loll
• temporize
• loaf
• mess around
• slow (down or up)
• putter (around)
• potter (around)
• decelerate
• monkey (around)
• plod
• inch
• ease
• procrastinate
• lumber
• filibuster

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• course
• run
• fly
• hurry
• hasten
• rush
• rip
• scoot
• speed
• rocket
• scurry
• career
• race
• whirl
• tear
• whisk
• dash
• zip
• barrel
• scramble
• bolt
• hump
• dart
• breeze
• run
• hustle
• whiz
• scud
• hurtle
• stampede
• jog
• gallop
• trot
• accelerate
• speed (up)
• hotfoot (it)
• sprint
• quicken
• bowl
• catch up
• overtake
• outrun
• outstrip
• outpace
• fast-forward

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

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• screw
• stick
• hustle
• sting
• beat
• do
• fiddle
• deceive
• defraud
• bilk
• cozen
• mulct
• victimize
• bleed
• chouse
• nobble
• swindle
• shortchange
• ream
• trick
• exploit
• flimflam
• shake down
• euchre
• rook
• sucker
• chisel
• con
• fleece
• gaff
• stiff
• fool
• short
• rip off
• skin
• hose
• extort
• skunk
• betray
• do in
• take for a ride
• thimblerig
• wrench
• take to the cleaners
• wring
• sell a bill of goods to
• gouge
• clip
• wrest
• nick
• overcharge
• soak
• dupe
• milk
• bitch
• gull
• rope (in)
• bamboozle
• double-cross
• fast-talk

diddle (with)

2 of 2

verb (2)

as in to play (with)

to handle thoughtlessly, ignorantly, or mischievously

if you use my home theater system, don't diddle with the settings—everything has been professionally calibrated

Synonyms & Similar Words

• play (with)
• toy (with)
• fiddle (with)
• fool (with)
• tamper (with)
• tinker (with)
• twiddle (with)
• mess (with)
• manipulate
• monkey (with)
• alter
• abuse
• misuse
• interfere
• mistreat
• meddle
• doctor
• intrude
• butt in
• manhandle
• muck (about or around)

Phrases Containing diddle

• diddle (with)