MALINGERING Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

malingering

verb

present participle of malinger

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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for malingering

Verb

Working with Nic was like driving a Lamborghini that could shift from unbreakable speed to idling like a purring lioness.

— Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
If drivers are caught idling, a picture of their license plate will be taken and they will be charged a $100 fine.

— Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of idling

Verb

In the highlight, Marshall retrieves the ball and oddly fires it back to the infield, fooling no one.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Anybody hoping that a Netanyahu defeat in October and the emergence of a less controversial successor will reset the table is likely fooling themselves.

— Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of fooling

Verb

Rather than playing as two traditional wingers, in this moment, both players were on the left flank.

— Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Rumors have circulated that Stan may be playing Harvey Dent, the district attorney who eventually becomes the villainous Two-Face and was previously portrayed by Aaron Eckhart, Tommy Lee Jones, and Billy Dee Williams.

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of playing

Verb

Still, there was a cloud of public doubt lingering over the event.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
For evening observers, this apparition has been more frustrating than triumphant, with Venus lingering low in the glow of twilight instead of climbing into a commanding position.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

The sculptures with images are polished in the center, creating mirrors that open up the space, resting on the floor and on the wall.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 18 Sep. 2026
Avoid sitting with your legs crossed (one leg resting on the other) for long periods.

— Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of resting

Verb

Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
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

Definition of loafing

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.

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malingerers

malingering

malingers

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“Malingering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malingering. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of malingering

verb

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