1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly
if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lazy
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dawdle
Slot’s focus on possession-dominance is not to say that his team dawdles on the ball.
—
Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 26 Apr. 2024
Ukrainian officials dawdled on implementing U.S.-proposed reforms to increase civilian control of the military, expand professional military education, and clean up the corrupt defense procurement system.
—Polina Beliakova, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2023
His fingers dawdled over my remedies, but his gaze was locked on my face.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2024
Outside Parliament, a small cluster of policemen were dawdling on the sidewalk.
—Nadia Beard, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dawdle
Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 26 Apr. 2024
Ukrainian officials dawdled on implementing U.S.-proposed reforms to increase civilian control of the military, expand professional military education, and clean up the corrupt defense procurement system.
—Polina Beliakova, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2023
His fingers dawdled over my remedies, but his gaze was locked on my face.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2024
Outside Parliament, a small cluster of policemen were dawdling on the sidewalk.
—Nadia Beard, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dawdle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdle
Verb
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China’s chief antitrust regulator is currently reviewing the BlackRock-Hutchison deal, effectively delaying the transaction before it was expected to be signed on April 2.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Apr. 2025
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What may happen is a pause by some companies in shipping goods to the U.S. Automaker Jaguar Land Rover and gaming outfit Nintendo have already announced a change of plans; the former is pausing shipment of its cars for a month, and Nintendo delayed pre-orders for its new Switch 2 console.—
Giacomo Tognini,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The cool weather is expected to linger in the metro during the first part of next week.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The whale lingers for a moment, and the video ends.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Spend an afternoon strolling around downtown’s Market Square and enjoying the ample greenspace at World’s Fair Park.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2025
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Bravo’s comments about Woodley come after the pair were first spotted strolling in Paris together last month.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Senators from both sides of the aisle are reigniting efforts to crawl back technology companies’ legal immunities with hopes bipartisan support in Congress could push the bill across the finish line this session and gain the backing of President Trump.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Cleveland-Cliffs — The steel producer declined 1.2% after a report from the Minnesota Star Tribune said Cleveland-Cliffs would temporarily idle two factories, resulting in hundreds of job cuts.—
Hakyung Kim,
CNBC,
21 Mar. 2025
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In court papers, top CFPB officials have said the agency remains committed to meeting its obligations under the law, rejecting arguments that by idling the majority of the agency's staff and canceling the bulk of its contracts, the Trump administration is violating the law.—
Douglas Gillison and Daniel Wiessner,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The average is dragged lower by the three most recent economic contractions, which were all atypical.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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How to Train Your Dragon is currently set to arrive in theaters on June 13, 2025, so the wait won’t drag on for too long.—
Michael Savio,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Farm’s Cottages And Meals The results are rustic but refined, handsome and restful, created from broad beams of repurposed wood and black and white panels of palm trees with extremely comfortable beds and front decks for lazing.—
Laurie Werner,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Without his glasses, Bear even mistakes Giraffe, lazing in a long, almost fully reclined deck chair, for a snake.—
Barney Saltzberg,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Hector had been poking fun at Lisa’s special interest: Taylor Swift.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Carrick’s penalty proved costly, as neither Trocheck nor Braden Schneider could muscle Point away from poking a puck past Shesterkin’s pad.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dawdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdle. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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