as in lounged
to spend time doing nothing
she likes to idle during the summer and recharge herself for the fall semester we idled away the evening relaxing around the campfire
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Recent Examples of idled
Oil tankers and other commercial shippers that would normally travel through the narrow Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s southern coast have been idled due to Iran’s threats and attacks.
—
Matt Peterson, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
What was supposed to be an uneventful first voyage transporting oil across the Persian Gulf has turned into a nightmare for a 28-year-old sailor from India, who has spent the past month stuck as his ship sits idled by the Iran war.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
But even Japan, which idled all its plants after that disaster, is restarting its nuclear plants.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
The country’s already cratering economy now teeters on the verge of collapse, with vehicles idled by a lack of gas, hospitals forced to cancel surgeries and millions living without a steady supply of electricity and water.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Worries that prices at the pump could soar past $5 emerge as tankers remain idled and the outlook for a quick resolution dims.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Delivery boats idled with engines cut.
—Vic O'Sullivan, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
In February 2023, Stellantis idled the assembly plant near Rockford and laid off its last 1,200 workers after halting production of the Cherokee amid dwindling sales.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a new California law, SB 237, now requires oil facilities idled for five years or more on January 1 to obtain a permit from the California Coastal Commission before restarting operations.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Matt Peterson, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
What was supposed to be an uneventful first voyage transporting oil across the Persian Gulf has turned into a nightmare for a 28-year-old sailor from India, who has spent the past month stuck as his ship sits idled by the Iran war.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
But even Japan, which idled all its plants after that disaster, is restarting its nuclear plants.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
The country’s already cratering economy now teeters on the verge of collapse, with vehicles idled by a lack of gas, hospitals forced to cancel surgeries and millions living without a steady supply of electricity and water.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Worries that prices at the pump could soar past $5 emerge as tankers remain idled and the outlook for a quick resolution dims.
—Evan Halper, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Delivery boats idled with engines cut.
—Vic O'Sullivan, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
In February 2023, Stellantis idled the assembly plant near Rockford and laid off its last 1,200 workers after halting production of the Cherokee amid dwindling sales.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a new California law, SB 237, now requires oil facilities idled for five years or more on January 1 to obtain a permit from the California Coastal Commission before restarting operations.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idled
Verb
-
Nearby, people and their dogs who had moved into the shelter for the duration of the war lounged on air mattresses, scrolling through their phones.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Just days after hard-launching her relationship with French filmmaker Romain Gavras, EmRata lounged in a plunging plush white robe while wearing nothing but some sparkling loud luxury accessories.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once product characters strolled into the park in 1974, the floodgates opened.—
John Haddad,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This week's Far-Flung Postcard takes readers to London, where NPR's Vincent Ni strolled along the National Covid Memorial Wall during a recent trip.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Flight attendants turned into drill sergeants, barking at passengers who flouted mask rules or dawdled too long eating that snack with the mask off.—
Thomas Black,
Twin Cities,
21 Dec. 2025
-
Fava snuffled and dawdled and took her own sweet time up the sidewalk.—
Dan Kois,
New Yorker,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Stir ¼ cup chilled vodka (if using), 2 Tbsp.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the warm weather, they were chilled to the bone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Further on, sandy-colored cows lazed in the mid-morning sun.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Alvarez was rested completely for Saturday’s game between Atletico and Barca in Madrid, which the visitors won 2-1 to take a big step towards retaining their La Liga title.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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This is not a laurel to be rested upon; true satisfaction and mission-fulfillment only comes with ascent to the peak of college basketball.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Helicopters roar overhead, reminding me that last week people were worried the Oscars were going to get droned.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Temperatures rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, air conditioners droned, and power cuts followed.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Takaoka played a long arcing ball-ahead to Ocampo, who avoided goalkeeper James Pantemis — who had charged off his line — and rolled a shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the back post and into a wide-open net.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The Current’s still one of the most talented teams in the league, boasting such USWNT veterans as Cooper, Sentnor and LaBonta, along with women who’ve played for other countries — Lorena and midfielder Rocky Rodriguez (Costa Rica), for instance.—
PJ Green
April 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idled. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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