LOITERING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

loitering 1 of 2

adjective

as in lingering

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

loitering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of loiter

as in delaying

to move or act slowly don't loiter in this neighborhood after dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 loitering

Adjective

Some victim advocates say human trafficking along Figueroa has escalated since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rollback of anti-loitering laws. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Verb

The rock kids, the funk kids, the disco-ers, the club rats are all fleetingly conjoined by one pair of highly attuned ears loitering on the streets. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Crowder was charged with one count of loitering with intent to commit a crime in connection with that incident. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 The company revealed that both the Containerized Missile Launcher and the FV-014 loitering munition system are in-house developments. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026 At the same time, Iran has reportedly modified another one of its Shahed series of loitering munitions based directly on combat lessons derived from Russia’s war on Ukraine. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 There was late-night noise, people drinking or lingering on the front steps of the residential building, and bar patrons blocking access to the apartment parking entrance and loitering around the nearby DASH bus stop. — Isaac Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 According to Metro officials, the transit has seen a nearly 60% drop in homeless people loitering over the past two years. — Tom Wait, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 The rocket body has been loitering lazily high above Earth for more than 18 months. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The flies also spent far more time loitering outside the plume than inside it, even though nearly all their forward progress toward the source happened during those brief dips into the scent. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loitering

Adjective

No more distractions, no more lingering questions, just a baller who loves this sport and continues to level up.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Although the treatment significantly reduced the cancer, follow-up exams showed lingering traces of the disease.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

In addition to suspending operations on the four existing cameras, the village is delaying installation of the other eight until concerns are addressed.

— Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026
While researchers have made tremendous headway in diagnosing the disease early and delaying symptom onset, a cure remains elusive, and a detailed understanding of the mechanisms behind the disease still has too many gaps.

— Mike McRae September 10, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of delaying

Adjective

The national committee has faced a host of criticism from other Democrats for its lethargic fundraising, including calls for DNC Chair Ken Martin to step down that have so far gone unheeded.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
So keep an eye our for habit changes and call a veterinarian if a cat stops eating, becomes lethargic, vomits, appears weak or develops yellowing around the eyes, gums or skin.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of lethargic

Verb

Traditionally, there’s this rendering of hell as a dark cave with fire, and there’s the devil with a pitchfork poking everybody with it.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
With the help of Nollet, Anderson’s hair was blown and teased away from her forehead, with tinges of pink poking through.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of poking

Adjective

But nice photography is not a sturdy enough basis for a narrative film, as so many lovely but inert art-house movies have shown us in recent years.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Everything Pasch needed to turn it into a television broadcast was rendered completely inert.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of inert

Verb

The story went viral, Rust recalls, dragging local, state and, ultimately, federal officials into a Keystone Kops-like battle of wills.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
During the transformation the gases escape, dragging dust and ice particles off the surface with them.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of dragging

Browse Nearby Words

loiterers

loitering

loiters

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“Loitering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loitering. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of loitering

adjective

verb

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