as in idled
to pretend to be sick or injured in order to avoid doing work
Because of his frequent absences, his boss suspected he was malingering.
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malingered
Verb
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In April, Riyadh and its partners stunned crude traders by rapidly restarting production idled since 2023 despite signs that world markets were comfortably supplied.—
Grant Smith,
Fortune,
4 Jan. 2026 -
The factory idled operations there in 2023 and 2024.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The internet already messed her up pretty good.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
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The internet already messed her up pretty good.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The first generation of Iranian revolutionaries—including octogenarians like Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—have long fooled themselves about their future.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
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Don’t be fooled by their jaw-dropping price, the bottoms deliver an expensive look thanks to their dark wash and classic cut.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trojans add two to special teams Long snapper Dylan Black and punter Lachlan Carrigan, both of whom played for Memphis last season, each committed to USC out of the transfer portal, rounding out the Trojans’ special teams unit.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
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Werner has 24 goals in 57 games for the German national team and played in the 2018 World Cup.—
Mercury News,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The charred smell of the blaze still lingered in the air Monday.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
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That transfer collapsed and, while Frankfurt’s interest has lingered, reports in Germany claiming an agreement to resurrect any deal have been premature.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The cucumbers rested gently on Capri's face, while a tiny real brush and baby moisturizer were pictured next to her.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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In a corner of the cabin, the dead girl finally rested under her curls.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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I'mPhaedra Trethan, bummed out about the passing of Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
9 Dec. 2025
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Headed to the mountains for the holidays and bummed about the slow progression of the snowpack?—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
4 Dec. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Malingered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malingered. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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