DIDDLING Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

diddling

verb

present participle of diddle

as in delaying

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

as in cheating

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 diddling

Verb

When these systems are under-resourced, investigations become more difficult, delaying interventions that protect the public.

— Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
The court will sit in September to decide whether to strike down the statutory foundation of the inquiry, delaying one of South Africa’s biggest political risks.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

The rumors of cheating with addresses and recruiting players have run rampant, but many schools do it.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
The story of a cheating husband's double life racked up more than 23 million views in its first month, reaching the top ten in 62 countries, including the US, and the number one spot in almost two dozen countries.

— Kate Bartlett, NPR, 24 July 2026

Definition of cheating

Verb

Instead, her dad looks under the table and sees a jumble of limbs with Chastain’s smiling face poking out at him.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 21 July 2026
This included one of their players poking a finger into the ear of the Belgian penalty-spot protector Diego Moreira, and responding to the reactionary elbow to the tummy by going down, and staying down, on top of the penalty mark.

— Geir Jordet, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of poking

Verb

Reserve interest on the float is the industry's revenue model, so an era of flat supply and rising turnover pays the networks, processors and platforms that charge per transaction while squeezing the companies that earn per dollar parked.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
At one point, up to 20,000 mariners and 2,000 ships were stuck in the Gulf, with only a few vessels squeezing through the strait each day.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 27 July 2026

Definition of squeezing

Verb

This seems especially true if there are hiccups in correct window measurement or ordering, which can lead to long delays and projects dragging on and on.

— Jason Rueger, USA Today, 29 July 2026
At Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz County, a lifeguard was captured on video dragging a boy out of the water in a harrowing rescue.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of dragging

Verb

The fact that celebrity landed upon him, plucking him from the obscurity of his mission to represent the burgeoning discourse on the disease, says more about the world that orbited him than his actions on the island or his own political nous.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Unlike a razor, which simply cuts hair at the surface, an epilator removes it from the root by mechanically plucking multiple hairs at once.

— Iman Balagam, Vogue, 17 July 2026

Definition of plucking

Verb

Lee’s elbow guard protected him from being hit directly on the bone, but Vitello said there was still some lingering soreness.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 July 2026
Some residents expressed concerns about pollution, the traffic congestion, the dangers of errant drivers around kids and the lingering aroma of frying food.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

These slim-fit mid-rise joggers look perfect for hustling around a busy airport, but are also stylish enough to wear while sightseeing.

— Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Langford was injured during Friday’s game after hustling on a double.

— Cal Phillips June 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026

Definition of hustling

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.

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“Diddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddling. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of diddling

verb

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