Synonyms of dawdle
61 similar words
Another word for dawdle is dally. Other synonyms of dawdle are dilly-dally, lollygag and while.
Synonyms and similar words for dawdle
verbChiefly followed by away: to spend (time) without haste or purpose.
verbTo spend time idly and unfruitfully; to waste time.
- dallyTo waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
- dilly-dallyTo dawdle; to waste time; to procrastinate.
- take one's timeTo take more time to do something than is considered acceptable.
- arse aboutTo turn round.
- arse aroundTo behave in a clownish, irresponsible or inefficient manner.
- bludge Australia, slang
- bum aroundTo wander around idly to no purpose; to loaf or loiter.
- cabbage slang
- clown aroundTo have fun in an irresponsible manner.
- dick aboutSynonym of dick around.
- dick aroundTo waste time on an unproductive activity.
- diddle
- dretch ScotlandTo move slowly and heavily; dawdle; loiter.
- faff
- faff aboutTo waste time; to spend time idly.
- faff aroundSynonym of faff about.
- fanny about
- fanny around
- fart aboutTo waste time, or to fool about.
- fart aroundTo waste time, or to fool about.
- fiddle aboutSynonym of fiddle around.
- fiddle around
- fool aboutTo fool around.
- fool around
- footleTo waste time; to trifle.
- forslow
- goof aroundTo fool around.
- goof offTo dawdle, lollygag; to waste time aimlessly or engage in idle activity or inactivity.
- hang about
- hang around
- hang out
- horse aroundTo engage in horseplay.
- idle
- jerk off vulgar
- lallygagTo dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
- lamp slang
- laze
- laze aboutTo do nothing in particular; to be idle.
- laze aroundTo do nothing in particular; to be idle.
- linger
- loaf
- loaf aboutTo do nothing in particular; to be idle.
- loaf aroundTo do nothing in particular, be idle.
- loiter
- lollop
- lollygagTo dawdle; to be lazy or idle; to avoid necessary work or effort.
- mess around
- mill aboutTo move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
- mill aroundTo move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
- muck about
- muck aroundTo muck about.
- piddle
- pingle dialectalTo dawdle.
- stand byTo do nothing. To be inactive in a situation.
- tarry
- tool aroundTo spend one's time idly.
- waste timeTo allow time to elapse in an unproductive manner.
- while
- drumble obsolete
nounSynonym of dawdler (“a person who dawdles or idles”).
- dawdlerA person who dawdles or idles.
Meaning of dawdle
- verb Chiefly followed by away: to spend (time) without haste or purpose.
- verb To spend time idly and unfruitfully; to waste time.
- verb To move or walk lackadaisically.
dawdle in other languages
Questions about synonyms of dawdle
- What is another word for dawdle?
- Dawdle has 61 synonyms on Word.ws, such as dally, dilly-dally, lollygag and while.
- What does dawdle mean?
- Dawdle means chiefly followed by away: to spend (time) without haste or purpose.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: dawdle (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of dawdle.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/dawdle. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.