as in idling
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 malingering
Verb
-
Why are states trying to reduce car idling?—
Anna Kleiber,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026 -
More than two dozen residents who spoke with NBC News describe officers in unmarked cars idling on neighborhood streets and agents going door to door.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The effect demands a more active degree of introspection than the average documentary, and Marczak’s unwavering commitment to that endurance test approach has a powerful way of messing with viewer expectations.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
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In reality, your body is constantly regulating them on its own, and messing with that process can be problematic.—
Rachel Reiff Ellis,
SELF,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Watching Bedard break ankles on a nightly basis like Allen Iverson on skates, attempting one-man rushes most players couldn’t even fathom, fooling elite goaltenders with his patented drag-and-drive release, is exhilarating.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Anyone who says otherwise is fooling themselves.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That’s what was bumming him out.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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To be this close over and over is really bumming me out.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Maybe the girl had crawled under a neighbor's trailer while playing hide-and-seek.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
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Massey also has experience playing the outfield, which should keep him in a regular role.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Experts say a lingering cold air mass across the Midwest could keep temperatures below historical averages well into early spring.—
Brandi D. Addison,
IndyStar,
3 Feb. 2026
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By Monday, any lingering concerns about Warsh or his history of hawkishness had been largely put aside as Wall Street turned its attention to surprisingly strong US manufacturing data.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In addition to resting, the singer was also told not to drink or smoke.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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Denver pushed the lead to seven with Porter resting early in the fourth.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Within a few moments, an antlerless deer emerged, loafing along toward Ronnie, completely unalarmed.—
Jim Moore,
Outdoor Life,
8 Oct. 2025
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She is seen going over the shots planned for the next day and remembering that some loafing around is planned.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
5 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Malingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malingering. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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