as in to veg out
to spend time doing nothing
spent the morning footling about while others were working
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of footle
Get our daily newsletter Yet Mr Schwarzman avoids footling with life’s foot-soldiers for a reason.
—
The Economist, 19 Sep. 2019
Last year an American startup called Swarm Technologies paid a footling $900,000 fine for sending four tiny satellites into orbit on an Indian rocket, having been denied permission to do so by the US Federal Communications Commission.
—The Economist, 17 July 2019
The Economist, 19 Sep. 2019
Last year an American startup called Swarm Technologies paid a footling $900,000 fine for sending four tiny satellites into orbit on an Indian rocket, having been denied permission to do so by the US Federal Communications Commission.
—The Economist, 17 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footle
Verb
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And while humans tend to veg out on the couch, canines typically only watch for short periods.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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Making the choice to be social is especially difficult at the end of an exhausting day when your impulse may be to veg out on the couch.—
Allie Volpe,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
Verb
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Sizes Tablecloths should hang about 8-16 inches on each side for formal dining and about 3-6 inches on each side for casual dining.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 June 2025
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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In the process, Gozo kicked back at Davis in retaliation.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
29 June 2025
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The 54-year-old actor kicked back in a luxury seaside bungalow, complete with a private infinity pool and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Patio mats can also make the pool more comfortable for lounging, and create a soft base for toddlers or small children to play on.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2025
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While the building is meant as a nod to the land’s agricultural roots, this one is for play rather than work: It’s set up for lounging and dining inside, with a wet bar for mixing up drinks and an outdoor fire pit perfect for making s’mores.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Are you bummed to see Farmhouse Fixer leave the network’s lineup?—
Rebecca Luther,
TVLine,
26 June 2025
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The graduate is not only bummed about the sister’s absence.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
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The courthouse in Alpine is lined with fixtures that mitigates light pollution, murals off that city's main thoroughfare depict wildlife resting in the comfort of a dark sky.—
Carlos Morales,
NPR,
1 July 2025
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Two crates full of Sam’s Club water bottles resting in ice baths sit beneath them.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
Verb
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When only two vehicles remain on the far edge of the lot, the woman twists the key in the ignition and the idling car shudders still.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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Buyers’ expertise is accelerating while most sellers are still idling.—
Aman Rangrass,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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This pasta salad makes full use of summer produce and is best served chilled.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
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The deli restaurant and its nearby Scoop Deck, a place people went for ice cream, have been go-to destinations for people refueling after a jaunt around the harbor, to meet friends, hold business meetings or a place to chill.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Footle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footle. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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