as in hacking (around)
to spend time doing nothing
returned home unannounced and found the au pair goofing off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goofing (off)
Verb
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This has a similar curved design, and the chenille-like fabric lends this a coziness for kicking back and curling up.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Mar. 2026 -
The real issue is the compressor cycling off and then kicking back on, which can be abrupt enough to wake you.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 2019, city employees began hanging about 500 trick-or-treat pumpkin buckets in the trees on Main Street every October.—
Elliott Harrell,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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Orion Nebula Those viewing from a dark sky location may also notice a blurry patch of light hanging about 5 degrees below Orion's belt.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Like Prince William and Kate Middleton often do on sportier engagements, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex showed off their soccer skills, kicking around a ball on Wednesday.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
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Bobby and Mickey were kicking around this idea of taking Grateful Dead music and modernizing it, technologically.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The images, which were taken in 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa, show Dion lounging on her back, gazing off into the distance, and enjoying the sun.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
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Spend the weekend lounging on Siesta Beach, paddleboarding or kayaking at Turtle Beach, and snorkeling at the Point of Rocks reef, where colorful marine life abounds.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Goofing (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goofing%20%28off%29. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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