diddle

verb

ˈdi-dᵊl How to pronounce diddle (audio)
Definition of diddlenext
1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly even though the hurricane was fast approaching, federal and local politicians wasted precious time diddling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats an unscrupulous Broadway producer diddles little old ladies by persuading them to invest in a surefire flop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diddle
  1. delay
  2. cheat
  3. poke
  4. squeeze
  5. crawl
  6. pluck
  7. drag
  8. linger
Verb
  • Due to the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, CBS delayed the start of the reboot of classic game show Hollywood Squares until Thursday, January 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay its implementation of the upcoming law and reportedly met with TikTok’s chief executive officer Shou Chew last month.
    Denni Hu, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Caregivers may be tempted to let kids win or even cheat to avoid meltdowns and tantrums.
    Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Most significantly, with three other dangerous Bears weapons spread to the right, safety Xavier Woods began cheating in that direction before the play began.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • Some of his fellow officers poked fun at him and his blue vest.
    Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025
  • In a signature segment, the Joke Wall, performers in mod regalia poked their heads out of holes in a set, like cuckoos emerging from a clock, and spouted one-liners.
    Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of poke
Verb
  • These forces squeeze a star horizontally while stretching it vertically.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Egypt lost $7 billion in crucial revenue from the Suez Canal in 2024 as the conflict in Gaza has squeezed shipping in the Red Sea, according to government officials.
    Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
    Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The two girls then left Leutner alone to crawl out of the forest and find help.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • The verses are animated but pretty ordinary; the main moment here is the chorus, which feels plucked straight from the tall tee era.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Customers pluck a particular cut or color off the rack.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • Trump is right to try to end the conflict; a war that drags on indefinitely could eventually turn Ukraine into a failed state.
    Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Polls show approval ratings for Yoon’s ruling party have been rising as the crisis drags on.
    Ryan Hogg, Fortune Asia, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Warren went first, while Poles lingered longer for a private moment with his quarterback.
    Adam Jahns, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The dry down reveals creamy tonka bean and sandalwood base notes, grounding the composition with a soft, cashmere-like warmth that lingers beautifully.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of linger
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.

Phrases Containing diddle

Thesaurus Entries Near diddle

did by

diddle

diddled

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Cite this Entry

“Diddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddle. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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