1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly
if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control
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Recent Examples of dawdle
Ukrainian officials dawdled on implementing U.S.-proposed reforms to increase civilian control of the military, expand professional military education, and clean up the corrupt defense procurement system.
—
Polina Beliakova, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2023
His fingers dawdled over my remedies, but his gaze was locked on my face.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2024
Outside Parliament, a small cluster of policemen were dawdling on the sidewalk.
—Nadia Beard, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2024
Despite these results, however, some Western critics argued that the deal afforded Russia an illegitimate role in deciding its victim’s future and allowed the EU to dawdle on toughening sanctions.
—Elizabeth Pond, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015
See All Example Sentences for dawdle
Polina Beliakova, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2023
His fingers dawdled over my remedies, but his gaze was locked on my face.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2024
Outside Parliament, a small cluster of policemen were dawdling on the sidewalk.
—Nadia Beard, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2024
Despite these results, however, some Western critics argued that the deal afforded Russia an illegitimate role in deciding its victim’s future and allowed the EU to dawdle on toughening sanctions.
—Elizabeth Pond, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015
See All Example Sentences for dawdle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdle
Verb
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Broken cross-department collaboration exacerbates inefficiencies, delaying decision-making and execution.—
Joao Mendes-Roter,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Still, some who have been focused on TCE were surprised that the Trump administration was delaying and reconsidering the recent ban.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The discoloration may linger after the fungus has been removed.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
23 Mar. 2025
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The palate is intensely flavored with citrus fruits and a stone-fruit character, balanced by a crisp acidity and a dry, lingering finish.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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From learning just enough French to ordering your café et croissant from the neighborhood boulangerie, to strolling around an artistic arrondissement, taking in the various shops and street style at a leisurely pace.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2025
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Visitors can stroll downtown and receive samplings as well as a complimentary flower from each location.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But, somehow, life finds a way: The seafloor was crawling with critters of all shapes and sizes, from centuries-old sponges and cup corals to octopuses, snails, worms, sea spiders, icefish and even a rare giant phantom jellyfish.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
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Wright crawled out of the driver’s side door of the vehicle, Chargualaf said.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Cleveland-Cliffs — The steel producer declined 1.2% after a report from the Minnesota Star Tribune said Cleveland-Cliffs would temporarily idle two factories, resulting in hundreds of job cuts.—
Hakyung Kim,
CNBC,
21 Mar. 2025
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In court papers, top CFPB officials have said the agency remains committed to meeting its obligations under the law, rejecting arguments that by idling the majority of the agency's staff and canceling the bulk of its contracts, the Trump administration is violating the law.—
Douglas Gillison and Daniel Wiessner,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and dragging hundreds more back to Gaza as hostages.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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The man was convicted of dragging the girl into an alley on Glenwood Road near E. 38th St. in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and attacking her, cops said.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Without his glasses, Bear even mistakes Giraffe, lazing in a long, almost fully reclined deck chair, for a snake.—
Barney Saltzberg,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
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And boredom, for a team that occasionally stumbles through late-game offense and lazes its way into too many 3s, can be a killer.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2024
Verb
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Mary Fowler momentarily looks down and holds up a very neat yellow square of knitting to the camera, two wooden needles poking out either side.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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During the incident, Konig also allegedly attempted to poke the woman with two syringes, Hawaii News Now reported, citing law enforcement sources.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dawdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdle. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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