1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly
if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure
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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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Recent Examples of dawdle
The showers are expected to dawdle in the area before exiting by early afternoon, the National Weather Service said in its forecast discussion.
—
Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
Federal officials have sometimes responded to adverse decisions with dawdling or grudging compliance.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dawdle
Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
Federal officials have sometimes responded to adverse decisions with dawdling or grudging compliance.
—Hurubie Meko, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025
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
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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Still, memories of the show lingered in a few significant minds: both Stephen Sondheim and Fred Ebb felt its influence.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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And though a few dozen people left the dinner early to catch the end or start of various performances, which included Charli XCX and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, about half of the long table lingered after dessert to continue chatting with their tablemates.—
Ye Fan,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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All to the excitement of onlookers strolling along the avenue, ending at Rockefeller Center to celebrate the day.—
Tonya Blazio-Licorish,
Footwear News,
18 Apr. 2025
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Walking, riding, limping, trudging, scooting, strolling — all the various forms of low-speed locomotion — define the experience of being in New York.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Simply fill the moat with water to keep unwanted pests from crawling down to the nectar ports.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2025
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And setting your baby down on the ground to crawl around isn’t the cleanest option.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Sitting in his idling pickup one afternoon, Sherlock watched as a Canadian Pacific train rumbled by the grain elevator in the small town of Wimbledon.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
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Their boat was found idling in circles, sparking a massive search.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Paleontologists used to wonder if some marine reptiles did the same, awkwardly dragging themselves onto beaches to lay eggs rather than birthing their young at sea like whales do.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Apr. 2025
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The longer the trade war drags on, the more likely Washington and Beijing will find other ways to retaliate beyond economics.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And if that interest is lazing by the beach, transfers to local beach clubs will be offered as well.—
Laurie Werner,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Bask in the sound of lapping waves from the king-size bed, or laze in a hammock overlooking the water.—
Cameron Sperance,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The success of Deadpool & Wolverine was a bright spot in 2024, but that movie soared to success in part by poking fun at Marvel's failings.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
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Others, of course, love the show's ability to poke fun at the cultural and political zeitgeist of the moment.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dawdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dawdle. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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