TRUANT Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

truant 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of truant

as in absent

not present at a mandatory time and place Her son was suspended after being truant from school a number of times.

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Dissimilar Words

truant

2 of 2

verb

as in to lazy

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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 truant

Adjective

In a late January social media post, district officials said any student participating in a walkout would be considered truant and given an unexcused absence. — Emily Donaldson, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Feb. 2026 In Kentucky, a 2024 law requiring court referrals for truant students led to a surge of families pulling their children out of public schools to homeschool, rather than face legal consequences. — Jon England, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025 The Moorhead Resource team steps in when students are at risk of being expelled or becoming truant to create a plan to address any underlying issues. — Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 School personnel also would be prohibited from referring truant students to police to be ticketed as punishment. — Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for truant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for truant

Adjective

The program has been under consideration for some time, Fujitsu says, and its aim is not to pin down what women bring to animation that was previously absent.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Most notably, Gershman has been absent, having fought to be able to hold an instrument or pick up his son again after a debilitating battle with long COVID and resulting autoimmune disease.

— Leena Tailor, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of absent

Verb

The price of computers and smartphones would skyrocket as electronic manufacturers idled their factories.

— Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
In August, Silfab briefly idled production and later furloughed some workers because of production material shortages the company said would last three to four weeks.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of idle

Verb

The entire day felt dehumanizing, as if her nearly eight years with the company, her medical problems and her physical pain had been reduced to nothing more than malingering and scattered incidents of tardiness.

— Greg Jaffe, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, practices in Chicago and has lectured on the topic of malingering, according to a resume posted online.

— Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023

Definition of malinger

Verb

The joy Lisa has with her RHUGT cast compared with the dread her RHOSLC cast seems to bring her really bums me out — especially because of how much of this trip is championing the sisterhood of Housewives.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
My conversation partner returned, somehow unable to bum even a single cigarette from anyone at this party.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 July 2026

Definition of bum

Verb

Instead, the board passed an unbalanced budget that could fire thousands of teachers, open the door to furlough days and drive up our debt service.

— Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
The City of Dallas will furlough city employees for three days to address a $30 million budget shortfall.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Definition of furlough

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

The colony also has a population of New Zealand fur seals that laze around the rocks frequented by flocks of seabirds.

— Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
The pigs that would soon enough become lunch lazed in the compost-pile mud in front of a five-star-hotel-worthy view of the Cretan Sea.

— Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026

Definition of laze

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troves

truant

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Style

“Truant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/truant. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of truant

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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