Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

loaf

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of loaf

to spend time doing nothing
  • the kind of sultry August afternoon that makes you just want to loaf
Synonyms of loaf

bum, chill, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), hang about [British], idle, kick around, kick back, laze, lazy, loll, lounge, veg out
Words Related to loaf

fiddle (around), fool, mess, monkey, muck, piddle, play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

doze, estivate (also aestivate), hibernate

lag, linger, loiter, poke, relax, rest, tarry

amble, mosey, saunter, stroll, swan

furlough, goldbrick, malinger, truant
Phrases Synonymous with loaf

kill time, twiddle one's thumbs
Near Antonyms of loaf

drudge, grind, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg, plod, plow, plug, slave, sweat, toil, travail, work

apply, buckle (down)

exert, put out

Synonym Discussion of loaf

idle, loaf, lounge, loll, laze mean to spend time doing nothing. idle may be used in reference to persons that move lazily or without purpose.
    • idled the day away
loaf suggests either resting or wandering about as though there were nothing to do.
    • she does her work and then loafs the rest of the day
lounge, though occasionally used as equal to idle or loaf, typically conveys an additional implication of resting or reclining against a support or of physical comfort and ease in relaxation.
    • he lounged against the wall
loll also carries an implication of a posture similar to that of lounge, but places greater stress upon an indolent or relaxed attitude.
    • lolling on the couch
laze usually implies the relaxation of a busy person enjoying a vacation or moments of leisure.
    • lazed about between appointments

Learn More about loaf

  1. See words that rhyme with loaf Dictionary: Definition of loaf Spanish Central: Translation of loaf Nglish: Translation of loaf for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of loaf for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loaf

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up loaf? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

hoopla

excited commotion or publicity

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. crosshair Roger Stone posts controversial photo

  2. feckless Former RNC chair derides Trump

  3. emergency, national emergency Trump declares crisis over wall

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games