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

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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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diddling

Verb

In that unlikely scenario, the project with LINXS could be terminated and Los Angeles World Airports, which manages LAX, would have to find a new contractor, further delaying the train’s future.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Tampa politicians will likely celebrate by delaying a vote on the Rays’ proposed new stadium by another few months.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

Princeton University dropped its over century-old Honor Code tradition which let students take their exams without supervision, after an AI cheating scandal rattled the Ivy League institution.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026
This led to rival Phoenix Union players calling them criminals and making accusations of cheating during a 1913 football game.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of cheating

Verb

But Vicki immediately goes past Meredith Marks (disengaging) to Amanda Frances (opening her laptop and working), even as the others try to earn their paychecks by poking at her.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
Milk Stage of Kernels Check the kernels on an ear by poking it with your fingernail.

— Danielle Ernest, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of poking

Verb

Squeeze your glutes, engage your core and drive your heels into the floor to raise your hips up to the ceiling while gently squeezing the ball.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026
Google hasn't explained the cut, but the timing lines up with the same memory and AI infrastructure costs squeezing pricing across the entire industry this year.

— Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of squeezing

Verb

Main Street pain Meanwhile, Treasury yields are dragging on Main Street.

— Matt Peterson, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Enes Kanter Freedom turned Angel Reese's latest crunch-time miss into fresh ammo Sunday, roasting the Atlanta Dream star while somehow dragging Paul George into his ongoing WNBA campaign.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of dragging

Verb

Dramatic photos taken from the scene show a firefighter on a tower ladder plucking a panicked child from a fire escape.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
Now, Yupia appears on Khramov’s debut album, where the horse literally makes music by strumming guitars with his nose and plucking strings with his teeth.

— Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of plucking

Verb

As the train gains elevation, dense coastal forest gradually gives way to alpine tundra, glacial lakes, rocky peaks, and, early in the season, lingering snowfields before reaching the White Pass Summit at 2,885 feet.

— Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
Excitement surrounding the new season is slowly growing among the West Ham United fanbase, but there are lingering issues that remain hard to ignore.

— Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

Besides Instagram hustling and scouring job boards, entrepreneurial editors find gigs when creators call out for help.

— Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
Devers, who finished with three hits, eschewed his power for small ball in the fifth, laying down a surprise bunt for a single, then hustling home on Susac’s sacrifice fly.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 July 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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Style

“Diddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddling. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of diddling

verb

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