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
Days passed and bombs kept falling, while oil tankers idled on either side of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had effectively closed in retaliation for the war launched by Israel and the United States.
—
Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
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
Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
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
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
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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
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Last Tuesday, the fashion designer strolled in a very different location.—
Randee Dawn,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
When LaBeija, as Gus the Theatre Cat, finally strolled onstage to revisit his glory days, waggling his long, polished claws, a younger Gus (Jonathan Burke) appeared, like a mirror dancing toward him.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 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
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Fava snuffled and dawdled and took her own sweet time up the sidewalk.—
Dan Kois,
New Yorker,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rereading it now, I was chilled to find that as much as Orwell provides a prophetic guide to our times, so does Nafisi, who chronicles daily life as the Islamic revolution transforms Iran.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
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Once chilled, top with berries and garnishes as desired.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Further on, sandy-colored cows lazed in the mid-morning sun.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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United currently aim to make four major signings, including an experienced striker and a left-back, with Tyrell Malacia departing and Luke Shaw needing to be rested more given the addition of midweek games.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Yi-hyeok’s smiling portrait rested on a table cradled by a sea of white chrysanthemums.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
19 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
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Temperatures rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, air conditioners droned, and power cuts followed.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Arthur would have looked very different had another actor played him, according to the filmmaker.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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Suffice it to say that eventually the tale of childhood catches up with the adult Sasha (played by Amy Zimmer), a filmmaker, who attempts to make sense of her past and Jeremy’s fate by undertaking her own investigation, at several decades’ remove.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idled. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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