truant 1 of 2

as in absent
not present at a mandatory time and place Her son was suspended after being truant from school a number of times.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truant

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of truant
Adjective
Even more controversially, Harris threatened criminal charges against the parents of chronically truant students, citing a connection between missing class and subsequent lawbreaking. Catherine Rampell, Washington Post, 23 July 2024 Critics have faulted her, though, for working in court to uphold California’s death penalty, despite her personal opposition, and for her threats to jail parents of chronically truant schoolchildren. Christian Orozco, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2024
Verb
The program helps truant students get back on track. Byron Pitts, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023 In Los Angeles, school superintendent Alberto Carvalho has gone door to door; in Alabama, signs stressing the importance of attendance are displayed on front lawns; in Philadelphia, local programs have been established that send out text messages to potentially truant youths' parents. Lauren Lantry, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for truant 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for truant
Adjective
  • Her dad works in the industry, and is largely absent from her life because of it.
    Kayti Burt, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The pitcher, the subject of offseason trade rumors and an odd man out in the Yankees’ rotation, has been absent from official on-field workouts in the two days since reporting.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The vehicles also worsen traffic on Lima’s major thoroughfares, increasing idling by cars and trucks, which are rarely electric.
    Maria Gioia, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Just as a yellow cab turned right into the intersection, the idling truck inched forward, seemingly preparing for a wide right turn onto E. 169th St., the video shows.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The entire day felt dehumanizing, as if her nearly eight years with the company, her medical problems and her physical pain had been reduced to nothing more than malingering and scattered incidents of tardiness.
    Greg Jaffe, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
  • Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, practices in Chicago and has lectured on the topic of malingering, according to a resume posted online.
    Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
Verb
  • When he himself isn’t bummed out, Scott Avett (who flew to New York to be with the cast and crew during its final week) remains philosophical.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Expecting to see spikes in seasonal affective disorder, Dr. Leibowitz was shocked to learn that Nordic people weren’t all that bummed out by the long, dark, and extreme winters.
    Julia Ries, SELF, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Church World Service of Durham is furloughing two-thirds of its staff, The News & Observer recently reported.
    Zachery Eanes, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Though 69 people were furloughed last week, Spiegel said Vista is hiring in the clinical areas, which directly impacts the delivery of healthcare.
    Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Now is not the time to dawdle, as certain entries on the list might still sell out by week’s end.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Instead, Spurs dawdled during negotiations and, in the end, Slot stayed with the Dutch club for another season before joining Liverpool.
    Oli Gamp, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • And boredom, for a team that occasionally stumbles through late-game offense and lazes its way into too many 3s, can be a killer.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2024
  • Tule elk wander Point Reyes and elephant seals laze on its beaches.
    Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Don’t be fooled by its cheery name: Happy Face looks haunting.
    Claire Franken, TVLine, 27 Jan. 2025
  • However, phishing is platform-agnostic, relying on fooling you, the user.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near truant

Cite this Entry

“Truant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/truant. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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