Synonym Chooser

How is the word loiter different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of loiter are dally, dawdle, delay, lag, and procrastinate. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows
children dawdling on their way home from school

When might dally be a better fit than loiter?

The words dally and loiter can be used in similar contexts, but dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When is it sensible to use delay instead of loiter?

The meanings of delay and loiter largely overlap; however, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

When can lag be used instead of loiter?

While the synonyms lag and loiter are close in meaning, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

When is procrastinate a more appropriate choice than loiter?

The words procrastinate and loiter are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loiter Using a plausible cover story, the red team passed front-desk security, loitered in stairwells, and accessed upper levels with lower foot traffic. Jochen Schwenk, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 In addition, the use of loitering drones designed to attack radar systems represents a significant escalation in the technological sophistication of cross-border attacks compared to years past. Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 May 2025 The venue, with a 5,000-person capacity just on the ground floor, was large enough to absorb any number of punks and others who wanted to attend, without leaving anyone outside to loiter or get in trouble. Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025 AeroVironment might be considered the incumbents, long established suppliers of small drones to the U.S. army and makers of the Switchblade series of loitering munitions supplied to Ukraine. David Hambling, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for loiter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loiter
Verb
  • Each time a child left, the emotional toll was unbearable, and the sadness lingered long after they were gone.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 27 June 2025
  • However, there are lingering threats of electronic interference that can impact a ship’s navigation systems with high levels reported during dark periods, JMIC says.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • So far, the administration has ended or delayed nearly 2,500 NIH grants, including some related to researching blood glucose.
    Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2025
  • Service businesses face real-time cost pressures that cannot be warehoused or delayed.
    Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The next day, at 9:10 p.m., Boelter crawled out of a wooded area and surrendered to law enforcement.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 27 June 2025
  • To make the stakes even higher, Player 39 crawls to the edge after the round ends.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Cunningham came to the defense of her teammate Clark, retaliating with less than a minute left on the clock after, earlier in the game, the Fever's superstar player was poked in the eye and then knocked to the ground by two separate Sun players.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • As Clark backed Sheldon down at the top of the key, Sheldon poked Clark in the eye.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Even as Beijing drags its feet on financial reforms, the chaos surrounding Trump 2.0 is making the case, day after day, for an alternative to the dollar.
    William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Voting had come to a standstill, dragging for more than three hours, with holdout senators huddling for negotiations and taking private meetings off the Senate floor.
    Ani Freedman, Fortune, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • The surrounding streets are a pleasure to stroll, particularly the wide Corso Italia, where families gather around benches under the trees and couples peruse the boutiques’ window displays.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • Barkov strolled onto the rebound with the nearest Oiler completely unescorted.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Loiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loiter. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on loiter

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