DAWDLING Synonyms: 188 Similar and Opposite Words

dawdling 1 of 2

adjective

as in leisurely

moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the dawdling pace of the movie was really making us restless

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dawdling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dawdle

as in delaying

to move or act slowly if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in idling

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

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 dawdling

Adjective

The third and final wave of a dawdling Pacific storm will hit San Diego County Thursday afternoon, wrapping up four days of soaking rains, heavy snow, tree-snapping winds and lightning that arced through the darkest hours of the night, the National Weather Service says. — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

Verb

Gvardiol looked jittery early on, rallied a little to break up some dangerous Porto attacks, but then started giving the ball away again and was booked for a needless pull after being caught dawdling in possession. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025 Faster pit stops could also help unlock sales for electric two-wheelers, which have been slow to catch on due to dawdling charge times and limited riding range. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Mar. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dawdling

Adjective

But in order to make the most of the experiment, scientists ensured a second spacecraft would follow DART at a more leisurely pace.

— Meghan Bartels, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
If a leisurely day by the pool is on the agenda, order chips and guac or sip a Valley Margarita from the comfort of your chaise lounge.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of leisurely

Verb

The daughter, Shannon Amos, faults her brother, Kelly Christopher Amos, for delaying medical care while isolating the actor from his family and friends in the years leading up to his death.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
More and more parents are delaying vaccines and citing logistics, outsourcing the decision to the parent who isn’t in the room or simply wanting more time.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

Companies across the industry have been idling facilities, with Suntory pausing production at one of Jim Beamâ€™s three Kentucky distilleries to upgrade the site while demand is low.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Diesel engine idling and high-risk industrial activity across the street from homes and parks would bring air, noise and light pollution.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of idling

Adjective

On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
In particular, he was asked about Netflix’s slower growth (2% year-over-year growth in user engagement during the first half in 2026).

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of slow

Verb

Abruptly moving on, like a magician preventing his audience from lingering on his last trick, Alex pulled out a tablet, holding it up to me.

— Andrew Lipstein, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026
Also on the ground floor is Maven, serving strong espresso and nitro cold brew—plus coffee cocktails worth lingering for.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
The pair had been loafing for some time among a grove of apple trees on a private residence in Payson.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Definition of loafing

Verb

He’s also been known to engage with those who might not be fans of his comedic stylings, publicly arguing back and forth with civilians, dragging them on his social media for his fans to see.

— Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
Beaches typically go through a seasonal cycle with powerful winter waves dragging sand out to sea and more mild summer waves depositing the sand back onshore.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of dragging

Verb

Before the sexy spectacle began livestreaming, Bündchen appeared in a video, lounging on a couch in pink lingerie, the ocean behind her.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
At the stern, the line’s signature ocean lounge is fitted with fold-out terraces that open to create an expansive waterside area for lounging or watersports.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of lounging

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“Dawdling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dawdling

adjective

verb

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