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
In April, Riyadh and its partners stunned crude traders by rapidly restarting production idled since 2023 despite signs that world markets were comfortably supplied.
—
Grant Smith, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
The factory idled operations there in 2023 and 2024.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2025
Then there are also those that have idled quietly in the background—neither in nor out of style—waiting on their comeback moment.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2025
The 49ers idled on Tuesday’s trade deadline, but only after dealing a week earlier for defensive lineman Keion White and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder to New England.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
But for now, idled IRS workers aren’t applying thumbscrews to taxpayers.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
And in Michigan, Cliffs owns and operates the Tilden Mine near Ishpeming and the adjacent Empire Mine, which has been idled since 2016.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 20 Oct. 2025
The company idled operations on the blast furnace, the basic oxygen furnace steel shop and continuous casting, blaming a weak auto market for the decision to idle.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The number-crunching bureau at the Labor Department is one of many government agencies idled by the shutdown.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Grant Smith, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
The factory idled operations there in 2023 and 2024.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2025
Then there are also those that have idled quietly in the background—neither in nor out of style—waiting on their comeback moment.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2025
The 49ers idled on Tuesday’s trade deadline, but only after dealing a week earlier for defensive lineman Keion White and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder to New England.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
But for now, idled IRS workers aren’t applying thumbscrews to taxpayers.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
And in Michigan, Cliffs owns and operates the Tilden Mine near Ishpeming and the adjacent Empire Mine, which has been idled since 2016.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 20 Oct. 2025
The company idled operations on the blast furnace, the basic oxygen furnace steel shop and continuous casting, blaming a weak auto market for the decision to idle.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The number-crunching bureau at the Labor Department is one of many government agencies idled by the shutdown.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idled
Verb
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In additional images, Alba lounged by the seashore in two different styles of leopard print bikini.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Patrons lounged in a smoky daze; men wearing fedoras played mah-jongg.—
Dennis Zhou,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The scene around them was picturesque — horses strolled in the distance, the sky bore a bright blue.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Paige Bueckers strolled into Unrivaled carrying the kind of aura that usually bends the room before a player ever steps on the floor.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
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When the doors pop open, expect a menu that includes Florida stone crab and oyster shooters, along with caviar service, hot and chilled small plates and handhelds.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
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Its thick vacuum insulation keeps drinks chilled for up to 12 hours and iced for up to two days.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After dough has rested, roll into balls and arrange on baking sheet.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Philadelphia, who rested their starters in the regular season finale last week against Washington, only has three players on the injury report leading into the game.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Temperatures rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, air conditioners droned, and power cuts followed.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
England only played one warm-up match before the series, against an England Lions team, while McCullum’s attack-minded philosophy has also been questioned amid a number of hapless dismissals during the series.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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After coming out of the game briefly three times in the first half, which ended with Boise State trailing 50-29, Meadow played all 20 minutes of the second half and the entirety of the three five-minute OT periods.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Ted, Janey and I lolled on an old carpet in the back.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idled. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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