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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Charismatic slacker Raj and uptight striver Mir aren’t just foils for each other; their mutual love is unmistakable, which gives weight to the looming prospect that the stress of salvaging Baba’s empire could tear them apart.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025 -
When Alyssa's slacker boyfriend steals their rent money, the girls race against the clock to get the funds back to avoid eviction from their dubious landlord, embarking on a series of chaotic escapades across Los Angeles.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The biggest underachievers were Florida State, Appalachian State, Utah and Liberty.—
Chris Vannini,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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The platoon of quarterbacks is preparing to face a Washington Commanders club that is shaking off their reputation as underachievers with their best season since 1991, the year of their last Super Bowl title.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
4 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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In season 3, spa manager Belinda Lindsey (Natasha Rothwell) kicks back with a copy of Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded by Narcissists.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Gibbons stopped, stalking the stage while cupping both ears, eating up the applause before kicking back in to close the iconic ZZ Top cut.—
Jim Ryan,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The plan also includes an education center and a café and lounge open to the street.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2025
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Now the steps have planters with juniper bushes on top for aesthetics — and to keep fans from lounging there.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 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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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
Verb
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Always ensure your criticisms rest on solid research and offer constructive paths forward.—
Jay Ruderman,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
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The Pope, 88, left the hospital on March 23 following a 38-day stay and has been advised to rest, with King Charles and Queen Camilla sending him their best wishes.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
8 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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