as in to veg out
to spend time doing nothing
spent the morning footling about while others were working
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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
The Economist, 19 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footle
Verb
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Just take care of your[self], and veg out.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Jan. 2026
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This set is damn near professional-wear, with a blazer-style top and contrast piping for those who like to veg out with dignity.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
On Monday, May 18, a 7%-illuminated crescent will hang about two degrees from Venus, with Jupiter about 20 degrees above.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Well … that’s where my skepticism kicks back in.—
Emma Sarappo,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
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With their mandatory minicamp wrapping up on Thursday, the Chicago Bears get some time to rest before offseason programming kicks back into gear.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Thanks to its large construction capacity to hold up to 600 pounds and balance-spreader bar designed for stability, multiple people can lounge in the hammock at once.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
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The large private compound boasts a gym, a spa, a theater, a pool, a large terrace for lounging and barbecuing, and a personal-size soccer field.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Some were drawn first to the language and its interna ideo, only to later realize the travel benefits involved; others had learned the language specifically to bum around.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
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That means, as some critics of the ban have pointed out, that 18-year-olds will almost certainly bum cigarettes from older friends—the same way younger teens have acquired them since time immemorial.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Verb
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The squad is resting at the hotel.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
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Part of that is because their resting heart rate is 12 years old.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Recursive self-improvement will transform the domains that check themselves and idle everywhere else.—
Christian Catalini,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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Last week's sell-off was triggered on Wednesday by idling – though robust – revenue projections from chipmaker Broadcom and may have been exacerbated by a call from artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for the sector to slow down its pace of advancements .—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Ice bags and cold towels may make players feel cooler, but experts say briefly chilling a small patch of skin does not necessarily pull much heat from the body’s core.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
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Her picks include a large grill that can handle food for a crowd, a rolling ice chest that keeps dozens of drinks chilled for the party and a handy, convertible picnic table and bench that's ideal for smaller spaces.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Footle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footle. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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