What is another word for dawdling?

Pronunciation: [dˈɔːdlɪŋ] (IPA)

Dawdling is a word that refers to someone moving or doing something slowly, which can be frustrating to those who wish to fast-track a task or journey. There are several synonyms that describe this behavior. Some of the commonly used words include lingering, loitering, dragging, procrastinating, and stalling. Lingering is used when someone takes a longer time than expected to leave a place. Loitering is a term that refers to someone aimlessly wandering or lingering around without any reason. Dragging is used when referring to someone moving with effort and slowness. Procrastinating relates to someone that keeps delaying doing something they need to do. Stalling is a term that describes someone taking too long to achieve a goal.

Synonyms for Dawdling:

What are the hypernyms for Dawdling?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the opposite words for dawdling?

Dawdling, which means to move slowly or waste time, has numerous antonyms that express the opposite concept. Hustling, for example, refers to moving quickly with purpose and direction. Similarly, hastening denotes moving quickly in a hurry, while bolting or dashing implies moving with great speed. Busy implies being constantly occupied with work or other activities. Likewise, a term like bustling describes places or areas that are filled with activity or movement. Working with determination is also a way to avoid dawdling, and taking action or making progress are related concepts. The precise antonym for dawdling varies based on context and usage, but there are numerous options for expressing the opposite idea.

Usage examples for Dawdling

One day, three or four weeks after the August Bank Holiday, she saw him dawdling along the pavement, and it suddenly struck her that she had not seen him for a long time; but she had been so full of her happiness that she had been unable to think of anyone but Jim.
"Liza of Lambeth"
W. Somerset Maugham
No, it had not been a dawdling day for him at all; on the contrary, he had not had time to glance at a single newspaper, and now, as he got some hot drink for himself and lit his pipe and hauled in an easy-chair to the fire, he thought he would look over the evening journals.
"Prince Fortunatus"
William Black
Now Maurice Mangan had spoken of his dawdling about this house; but the fact was that he had his hands full from morning till night.
"Prince Fortunatus"
William Black

Famous quotes with Dawdling

  • So you see, imagination needs moodling - long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.
    Brenda Ueland
  • This kind of thinking is taking a long view, in which one must also count the imponderables, such as the effort of prolonged depression upon restless social forces; the inevitable necessity for National Socialism to move very far to the Left, the possible revolt of the people everywhere against dawdling tactics of their leaders.
    Dorothy Thompson

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