as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
returned home unannounced and found the au pair goofing off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof (off)
Noun
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Still, Brockman’s no slacker and presents properly when ordered on a mission escorting annoying, wise-cracking civilian defense contractor Josh Weaver (Desmin Borges) on the maintenance of surveillance installations close to the North Korean border.—
Richard Kuipers,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025 -
Two slackers are short on rent in ‘One of Them Days,’ — now playing in theaters — an L.A. comedy with extra moxie.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The film, which snagged the Audience Award at the 2023 Soho International Film Festival, follows an underachiever who concocts an elaborate scheme to dodge alimony payments to his fashion-exec ex-wife.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
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Here’s a look at Chris’ biggest overachievers and underachievers.—
Jayna Bardahl,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Making the choice to be social is especially difficult at the end of an exhausting day when your impulse may be to veg out on the couch.—
Allie Volpe,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
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Plus: What better way for locals to veg out during a stressful election season than with some grade-A on-screen drama?—
Mimi Montgomery,
Axios,
19 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Television and film's brightest stars gathered to recognize each other, flaunt their best style and simply kick back with their peers.—
Brendan Le,
People.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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In addition to the aforementioned considerations about rebuilding, some residents who are moving ahead complained about bureaucratic delays, saying their plans have been kicked back, sometimes repeatedly, with demands for alterations.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the first clip, Fischer, 25, is lounging in the front seat of the car, watching Love is Blind without a care in the world.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
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Outside, hotel guests can lounge in two large outdoor pools or visit the a state-of-the-art fitness center with all latest and greatest equipment including Peloton bikes.—
Kate Donnelly,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
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The big picture: The nine-block shopping district got its own Art Deco-style sign on Monday, which now hangs about 25 feet in the air over Cary Street by Burtons Grill & Bar.—
Sabrina Moreno,
Axios,
1 Oct. 2024
Verb
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That family, Groat said, represented an important aspect of the potter’s field: This is a burial plot where generations of families were laid to rest.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
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As the hair follicles are taken from the dihydrotestosterone-resistant donor area at the back of the head, patients can rest assured that their transplants are permanent.—
Kody Boye,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Get our daily newsletter Yet Mr Schwarzman avoids footling with life’s foot-soldiers for a reason.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
19 Sep. 2019
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Last year an American startup called Swarm Technologies paid a footling $900,000 fine for sending four tiny satellites into orbit on an Indian rocket, having been denied permission to do so by the US Federal Communications Commission.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
17 July 2019
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Cite this Entry
“Goof (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof%20%28off%29. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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