as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the dawdling pace of the movie was really making us restless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loafing
to spend time doing nothing
accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdling
Adjective
-
The contrast detailing gives the classic silhouette a polished touch, while the lightweight, flowy fabric moves beautifully—whether you're headed to a spring wedding, a beach vacation, or just a leisurely Saturday stroll.—
Kaitlin Marks,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2025 -
If your ideal spring break means swapping the chaos of everyday life for some leisurely solo time, Beaufort is the retreat for you.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This will include recruiting mercenaries and migrants to offset losses on the front line where Russian forces are making slow gains but at a considerable cost in personnel.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Larson continued to speak at a slower cadence but ran out of time and was not able to finish what was meant to be a five-minute speech.—
Andrew Solender,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Sunday will remain mild with highs near 52 and lingering rain chances.—
Nour Rahal,
Detroit Free Press,
24 Dec. 2024
-
In the days since, many people have reported unsafe road conditions and lingering snow — along with uncollected leaf piles from fall leaf collection that were scattered back onto their yards by the snowplows, the council members said.—
Maia Pandey,
Journal Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The loud ticking sound when my car is idling.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Dec. 2024
-
My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out the anticipatory purr of two ambulance engines idling nearby.—
Daphne Ewing-Chow,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The course proved to be a scenic one, as Connor also encountered some local wildlife, including a crocodile lounging by the water at the 13th hole and two antelopes locked in a playful antler battle near a sand trap.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
-
This plush hooded fleece bathrobe is perfect for lounging, featuring an adjustable waist belt for a secure fit and two front pockets for convenient storage.—
Nora Colomer,
Fox News,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Carter first saw the disease up close in 1988 while visiting a village in Ghana where nearly 350 people had worms poking through their skin.—
Sam Mednick,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Dec. 2024
-
At its most basic, a poke cake is made by poking holes into a warm cake and pouring on a frosting or filling mixture.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
During the winter months, your lawn is either growing slowly or resting in dormancy, depending on the climate in your region.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2025
-
But the infection typically does improve with resting, drinking fluids and over-the-counter medication.—
Christina Shaw,
Fox News,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Then something strange happened — the Falcons started playing like one of the best defenses in the league.—
Josh Kendall,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Deion Sanders began his NFL career with the Falcons in 1989, also playing baseball for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves well into the 1990s.—
Dan Pompei,
The Athletic,
26 Dec. 2024
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.
Thesaurus Entries Near dawdling
Cite this Entry
“Dawdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdling. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share