diddling

verb

present participle of diddle
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly even though the hurricane was fast approaching, federal and local politicians wasted precious time diddling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheating
to rob by the use of trickery or threats an unscrupulous Broadway producer diddles little old ladies by persuading them to invest in a surefire flop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diddling
  1. delaying
  2. cheating
  3. poking
  4. squeezing
  5. dragging
  6. plucking
  7. lingering
  8. hustling
Verb
  • Sacramento Regional Transit will adjust six bus routes beginning Sunday, including delaying departure times and eliminating one early-morning trip from Florin.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The discovery prevented the plane from being moved on schedule, delaying a flight and forcing JetBlue to use a different aircraft instead, according to the affidavit, an interruption estimated to cost the airline over $2,400.
    — Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of delaying
Verb
  • In March, the owner of a Colorado funeral home was sentenced to 18 years in prison for mishandling nearly 190 dead bodies, cheating customers and defrauding the federal government through loan applications.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Trump has been accused of cheating at golf many times, but some pro golfers have praised his game.
    — Tom D'Angelo, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheating
Verb
  • At first glance, corals present as little more than colorful rocks — piles of lobes, stalagmites, and branches poking out from the seafloor.
    — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Carpenter suggests applying it to vertical surfaces, or using soaked cotton balls in open glass jars (or poking holes in the lids to allow the fumes to escape).
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of poking
Verb
  • The depreciation has sounded alarm bells in Tokyo, with rising import costs squeezing businesses and consumers.
    — Mia Glass, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • By squeezing the blocks together with the sample in the center, scientists apply an immense amount of pressure on it.
    — Robin Macaluso, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeezing
Verb
  • That wider perspective matters, because sovereignty isn't achieved simply by dragging every service into the spare room.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The video opens with Itami dragging a half-conscious Burke by his legs and delivering him to a young couple on a crime spree.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of dragging
Verb
  • Dramatic photos taken from the scene show a firefighter on a tower ladder plucking a panicked child from a fire escape.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Now, Yupia appears on Khramov’s debut album, where the horse literally makes music by strumming guitars with his nose and plucking strings with his teeth.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of plucking
Verb
  • Starting in Arraez’s place was Basabe, who has spent more time with the club than originally anticipated due to Matt Chapman’s lingering abdominal strain.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Skubal’s arrival answers whatever lingering questions there were about the Dodgers’ quest for a third straight title, as well as ones yet to pop up.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of lingering
Verb
  • Devers, who finished with three hits, eschewed his power for small ball in the fifth, laying down a surprise bunt for a single, then hustling home on Susac’s sacrifice fly.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • These slim-fit mid-rise joggers look perfect for hustling around a busy airport, but are also stylish enough to wear while sightseeing.
    — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Definition of hustling
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.

Browse Nearby Words

diddlies
diddling
diddling (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Diddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddling. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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