dawdling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of dawdlingnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dawdling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dawdle
1
as in delaying
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 loafing
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdling
  1. leisurely
  2. slow
  3. lingering
  4. idling
  5. lounging
  6. poking
  7. resting
  8. playing
Adjective
  • In spite of the leisurely pace of change, To mix valiant drinks for the future.
    Czeslaw Milosz, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
  • With an elegant yet intimate atmosphere, guests will enjoy a leisurely evening of delicious food, good company, and celebration.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of leisurely
Adjective
  • The commission’s slow start is illustrated by its handling of two complaints filed in May against state Rep. Emily O’Brien.
    Jacob Orledge, ProPublica, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Just unhitch the Flow, grab your iPad, and steer it like a giant, slow RC car into the perfect spot.
    Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of slow
Verb
  • 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
  • Sunday will remain mild with highs near 52 and lingering rain chances.
    Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of lingering
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
Definition of idling
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
  • There is also time for lounging on the Pink Beach.
    Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of lounging
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
Definition of poking
Verb
  • Place the terracotta pot upside down over the tea lights, resting on the bricks.
    Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
  • With this new year, consider planning some fresh ways to cater to your creativity—and lean in to the importance of resting.
    Essence, Essence, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of resting
Verb
  • 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
  • This team is still playing hard, evidenced by four wins in their past five games.
    The Athletic NFL Staff, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of playing
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

dawdles

dawdling

dawn

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Cite this Entry

“Dawdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdling. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of dawdling for Spanish Speakers

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