Synonyms of dawdled

dawdled

verb

past tense of dawdle

1

as in delayed

to move or act slowly

if you continue to dawdle, we'll be late for sure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delayed
• lingered
• dragged
• crawled
• poked
• strolled
• loitered
• crept
• lagged
• lollygagged
• played
• shuffled
• dallied
• stalled
• diddled
• tarried
• fell behind
• dropped behind
• hung fire
• lounged
• moped
• marked time
• idled
• staggered
• sauntered
• ambled
• dillydallied
• took one's time
• dragged one's feet
• loafed
• trifled
• shilly-shallied
• fiddled (around)
• procrastinated
• plodded
• puttered (around)
• inched
• fooled around
• hung (around or out)
• pottered (around)
• temporized
• decelerated
• lolled
• slowed (down or up)
• eased
• messed around
• lumbered
• monkeyed (around)
• filibustered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurried
• rushed
• sped
• scurried
• raced
• hastened
• flew
• ran
• dashed
• scooted
• whirled
• whizzed
• bolted
• ripped
• hustled
• tore
• whisked
• darted
• zipped
• scudded
• scrambled
• rocketed
• barreled
• coursed
• hurtled
• breezed
• trotted
• stampeded
• humped
• ran
• bowled
• jogged
• sprinted
• galloped
• careered
• accelerated
• quickened
• hotfooted (it)
• sped (up)
• overtook
• caught up
• outstripped
• outpaced
• outran
• fast-forwarded

2

as in lazied

to spend time doing nothing

accused the city council of dawdling even as the crime rate was spiraling out of control

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lazied
• lounged
• lazed
• idled
• strolled
• loafed
• bummed
• dallied
• rested
• chilled
• relaxed
• played
• droned
• poked
• lingered
• hung (around or out)
• goofed (off)
• lolled
• kicked back
• hacked (around)
• killed time
• dillydallied
• mucked
• hung about
• messed
• footled
• loitered
• piddled
• vegged out
• twiddled one's thumbs
• sauntered
• kicked around
• ambled
• fooled
• dozed
• trifled
• monkeyed
• lagged
• moseyed
• fiddled (around)
• hibernated
• puttered (around)
• tarried
• swanned
• pottered (around)
• estivated
• malingered
• truanted
• furloughed
• goldbricked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worked
• labored
• hustled
• plodded
• toiled
• plowed
• ground
• pegged
• plugged
• humped
• slaved
• sweat
• applied
• grubbed
• drudged
• travailed
• buckled (down)
• moiled
• exerted
• put out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dawdled

But, lucky for anyone who dawdled, many of the deals are still active. — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 June 2026

Flight attendants turned into drill sergeants, barking at passengers who flouted mask rules or dawdled too long eating that snack with the mask off. — Thomas Black, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025

Fava snuffled and dawdled and took her own sweet time up the sidewalk. — Dan Kois, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025