as in to veg out
to spend time doing nothing
spent the morning footling about while others were working
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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
-
This is something Kang was championing — badass characters who also veg out on the couch without makeup on.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
In addition to all the driving thrills, Porsche Ice Experience is also about kicking back, enjoying fine dining, fireside conversations, and a genuine sense of camaraderie among fellow Porsche-loving participants and instructors.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Fernandes Anderson doled out a $13,000 bonus to one of her Council staffers, a relative but not an immediate family member, on the condition that $7,000 be kicked back to her.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Even the arm and backrests are adjustable to provide the maximum amount of comfort while lounging.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The kitchen is great for entertaining with an easy flow out to the alfresco dining and lounging areas alongside the infinity-edge pool, all with unobstructed views of the horizon.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That’s what was bumming him out.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
-
To be this close over and over is really bumming me out.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Still, Demi Moore never rests on her style laurels.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The visible-light photo, taken by one of Maxar Technologies' WorldView Legion satellites orbiting at an altitude of 312 miles (518 kilometers), shows what appears to be a fleet of fighter jets resting on the ramp adjacent to the runway surrounded by brown, arid soil.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The San Diego State football team, idle over the weekend, has had two weeks to prepare for this weekend’s nonconference game against Cal.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Avoid excessive idling and do not top off when refueling motor vehicles.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Scientists at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) have developed Korea’s first homegrown Liquid Air Energy Storage system, which uses surplus electricity to chill air into liquid, store it, and later release it to generate power.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
-
While this criticism is overstated, as a lot of his books have bone-chilling finales or thematically rich conclusions, there are certainly a lot of stories where he's failed to land the plane.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Footle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footle. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share