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
Last Tuesday, as the minute hand ticked toward the end of the initial cease-fire, Vance’s plane idled on the runway, ready to fly him to peace talks in Pakistan.
—
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
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
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
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
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
-
Earlier on Sunday, Sai Sudharsan continued his fine form with 87 runs off 46 balls as Gujarat Titans strolled to an eight-wicket win over host Chennai Super Kings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Yet, as throngs of people strolled the three-block downtown on a recent April weekend, past American flag streamers, patriotic bunting and red brick colonial buildings, there was scant visible evidence of that polarization.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 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
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Setting the stage in Charlotte Outside The Casey by Beau Monde in North Charlotte, restaurant guests gathered under tents in the September heat, seeking relief from bottled water chilled in coolers around the perimeter after checking in for the experience.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
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Ultimately, beer doesn't have to stay cold simply because it was chilled at the store or in your fridge.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 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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Kecia Steelman has certainly not rested on her laurels since stepping into the top job at Ulta Beauty in January 2025.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Instead, Furman found that because Comey's firing rested on Article II of the Constitution, not a federal law governing the civil service, the federal court has jurisdiction to hear the case.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
28 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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During their time together, Snead and McVay built teams that have played in two Super Bowls, winning one, and made eight playoff appearances.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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The crowd went nuts because Heidenreich played for the United States Naval Academy.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Idled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idled. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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