LOLLYGAG Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

lollygag

verb

ˈlä-lē-ˌgag

variants also lallygag

Definition of lollygag

as in to delay

to move or act slowly accused the government of lollygagging while survivors of the earthquake continued to live in the most wretched conditions

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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 lollygag Knueppel didn’t seem to know how to lollygag through a workout, even one of the early-morning shootarounds where NBA players are just waking up. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lollygag

Verb

The tests could easily do the opposite, as people with results suggesting cancer require follow-up testing that overwhelms our healthcare system, potentially delaying diagnoses for people with cancer.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
The game was one of many across the Southland delayed or postponed by lightning, particularly in Orange County.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

Coming out of Saturday's showdown in Austin, those questions are going to linger over the next five to six weeks.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Moton lingered on the turf for a while, punching the turf in pain and dread, before a cart came out to transport him to the locker room.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of linger

Verb

On thinner material, that gives you a fighting chance at keeping heat and warpage under control without crawling along at a miserable pace.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
The bystander told the woman to get down on the floor before crawling into the home beneath the heaviest heat and dragging her to safety, according to the fire department.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of crawl

Verb

Season 2 picks up from where things left off, with Michael and Diana having barely arrived in Spain when they are dragged back into the fold to answer questions around Ricardo’s death.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s spokesman denied Britain was being dragged in to the conflict.

— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of drag

Verb

Ask it to poke holes and give you the strongest case against something.

— Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of poke

Verb

Gvardiol looked jittery early on, rallied a little to break up some dangerous Porto attacks, but then started giving the ball away again and was booked for a needless pull after being caught dawdling in possession.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Don’t dawdle, though, as the air temperature in the room or your warm hand on the glass can transfer their thermal energy to melt the rest of the ice and then begin to raise the temperature of your drink!

— Matthew Koss, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of dawdle

Verb

Moments later, a male lion strolled out of the thin trees behind me, settling by the pond for a drink.

— Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Over the next two hours, friends stroll by, on bike and on foot, stopping to catch up for a while before continuing on.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of stroll

Browse Nearby Words

lolly

lollygag

lollygagged

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“Lollygag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lollygag. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lollygag

verb

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