footles

verb

present tense third-person singular of footle
as in dillydallies
to spend time doing nothing spent the morning footling about while others were working

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for footles
  1. kicks back
  2. rests
  3. hangs about
  4. bums
  5. plays
  6. chills
  7. idles
  8. relaxes
Verb
  • Well … that’s where my skepticism kicks back in.
    — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of kicks back
Verb
  • Garcia-Herrero said Europe's leverage largely rests on its position as a major destination market and the presence of large shipping companies that have avoided the Arctic because of environmental and commercial risks.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Matthew Tan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • This has all but ensured that Democrats will retake the House in November, but the Senate rests on a knife’s edge.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • Though the sisters are supposedly first-generation Italian American, no whiff of the old country hangs about Kay; Dorothy will at least spit out a few words in Italian.
    — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Turquoise pearl, and azure line the space, and a cylindrical hanging light sculpture made of hundreds of white and gold ceramic fish hangs about the lounge seating area.
    — Kristin Braswell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
Definition of hangs about
Verb
  • The joy Lisa has with her RHUGT cast compared with the dread her RHOSLC cast seems to bring her really bums me out — especially because of how much of this trip is championing the sisterhood of Housewives.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking really bums them out.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of bums
Verb
  • The rear tire plays a different role from its conventional use on roads.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • But the technology operating above Earth plays an enormous role in everyday life.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of plays
Verb
  • The department also argues that threatening officers with prosecution for protecting their identities and their families chills enforcement of federal law and compromises sensitive operations.
    — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • With her severe bob and icy demeanor, Miranda chills her underlings to the bone.
    — Jami Ganz, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of chills
Verb
  • As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
  • Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of idles
Verb
  • Corcoran relaxes with Max in the library on a circa 1900 French iron daybed settee from Fireside Antiques in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
    — David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Once normal breathing resumes, parasympathetic influence increases, and the body relaxes big time.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of relaxes
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.

Browse Nearby Words

footled
footles
footlights
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Cite this Entry

“Footles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footles. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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