LOITERING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

loitering 1 of 2

adjective

as in lingering

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

loitering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of loiter

as in delaying

to move or act slowly don't loiter in this neighborhood after dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 loitering

Adjective

Some victim advocates say human trafficking along Figueroa has escalated since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rollback of anti-loitering laws. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Verb

That March, Tahmasbi noticed strangers loitering around his apartment building. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 The company revealed that both the Containerized Missile Launcher and the FV-014 loitering munition system are in-house developments. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026 At the same time, Iran has reportedly modified another one of its Shahed series of loitering munitions based directly on combat lessons derived from Russia’s war on Ukraine. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 There was late-night noise, people drinking or lingering on the front steps of the residential building, and bar patrons blocking access to the apartment parking entrance and loitering around the nearby DASH bus stop. — Isaac Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 According to Metro officials, the transit has seen a nearly 60% drop in homeless people loitering over the past two years. — Tom Wait, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 The rocket body has been loitering lazily high above Earth for more than 18 months. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The flies also spent far more time loitering outside the plume than inside it, even though nearly all their forward progress toward the source happened during those brief dips into the scent. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026 There’s just a better version lurking inside, one that could’ve elevated the action-chase genre instead of merely loitering there. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loitering

Adjective

No more distractions, no more lingering questions, just a baller who loves this sport and continues to level up.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Although the treatment significantly reduced the cancer, follow-up exams showed lingering traces of the disease.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of lingering

Adjective

So keep an eye our for habit changes and call a veterinarian if a cat stops eating, becomes lethargic, vomits, appears weak or develops yellowing around the eyes, gums or skin.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
No team wants to peak on the first Saturday, but our league loves a narrative and what happens right now sets a tone; Manchester United’s is discordant, flat, lethargic.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of lethargic

Verb

An ancient Nazi scientist (Dan Stevens) crawling across a carpet to lick a woman’s stilettoed foot.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
Classicist and Roman plumbing expert Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow suggests that private toilets might have been cut off from the municipal sewers to prevent animals crawling up the pipes and into homes.

— Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of crawling

Verb

Seething at his dad for poking at his body insecurities, the comedian dealt with his emotions like any good millennial — by podcasting about it.

— Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Wear the fall wardrobe staple layered, like Brinkley did under a cardigan with the lace poking through, or style it on its own when the weather is a little warmer.

— Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of poking

Adjective

For the less inert, Hans Grill, a modern British restaurant in sister property 11 Cadogan Gardens, is just a hop, skip, and jump over.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
Hopkins said modern safety design wraps uranium fuel pellets in multiple layers of heavy-duty ceramics and graphite casing, and they’re rendered inert when separated.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of inert

Verb

In addition, people are urged to secure to chains to avoid dragging and potential spark and not to toss cigarette butts out of vehicles.

— Tim Fang, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
As mentioned previously, Babcock obstinately played a late-career Marleau in significant minutes during his time in Toronto with dragging results.

— Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of dragging

Browse Nearby Words

loiterers

loitering

loiters

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Loitering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loitering. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of loitering

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes