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
-
Neurobots spend less time idling and more time exploring.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Mar. 2026 -
Other steps like keeping tires inflated, using A/C sparingly as needed, using cruise control, avoiding long idling, and servicing your vehicle regularly can also significantly help save fuel, GasBuddy recommends.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Stop messing with Wedgie, already.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Why are people messing with those cute little robots?—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Baio says Kassotis has been fooling people for years.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Indeed, depth would only get in the way of the plot, which is primarily concerned with fooling you and fooling you again.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Spring cleaning bumming you out?—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That’s what was bumming him out.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Tell me about playing the 9-year-old version of your character and the adult version.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Back healthy from her rehab, expectations are high for the Stanford standout, who also stayed busy during the offseason playing in the Unrivaled league.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This pick swap between the Bulls and Trail Blazers is a final lingering mechanism from a 2021 three-team trade that sent Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In an interview last month with CBS News, Kirby said the potential of lingering high fuel prices could be an opportunity for United to expand.—
Kris Van Cleave,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Also in the vehicle was Jack Zyska, the Knights’ Director of Position Player Development, and junior pitcher Braden Smith, who was resting in the back.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
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Houston police even recovered a stray bullet from the bed where the mother and her newborn had been resting just moments earlier, according to KTKR-TV.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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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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Cite this Entry
“Malingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malingering. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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