diddle

verb

ˈdi-dᵊl How to pronounce diddle (audio)
Definition of diddlenext
1
as in to delay
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 to cheat
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diddle
  1. delay
  2. cheat
  3. poke
  4. squeeze
  5. crawl
  6. pluck
  7. drag
  8. linger
Verb
  • In a 2023 lawsuit, 20 patients alleged doctors delayed or denied medically-necessary care out of confusion and fear of the penalties for violating the law, which include loss of medical license, fines of $100,000 or more and sentences of up to life in prison.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • But don't delay, the collection will be available for a limited time only and is expected to sell out fast.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Cut to a year later, and Layla is feeling down after being dumped by her cheating boyfriend right before the holidays.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Parade balloons seem to cheat physics in order to move through the sky.
    Rhett Allain, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of cheat
Verb
  • Cover up on the top half and let transparent details poke out from underneath.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024
  • The late-night host also poked fun at a photo of Trump, Elon Musk, RFK Jr., Donald Trump Jr. and House Speaker Mike Johnson eating McDonald’s on his private plane after attending the UFC 309 event on Saturday.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024
Definition of poke
Verb
  • Often the rookie spends several minutes adjusting their chair, finding the right eye relief, and remembering their shooting form before ever squeezing the trigger for that first dry fire.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2024
  • The investigation reveals a dismal picture of a company with a sales culture that depends on squeezing infirm and elderly patients and the government for every penny.
    Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • Cozy Earth Soft Woven Long-sleeve Pajama Set There are few better feelings than crawling into bed in a fresh set of Cozy Earth pajamas.
    Sophie Mendel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2024
  • But the ordeal left much of Manhattan’s West Side stuck on Wednesday, with Nos. 1, 2 and 3 trains crawling up the island, making local stops.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • Some congressional staffers could also be plucked to work in the new administration at HHS or the White House.
    Victoria Knight, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024
  • The mbira—a wooden board over which iron keys of varying lengths are affixed and plucked to create a metallic sound—is an old instrument found throughout much of Africa and the Americas.
    Percy Zvomuya, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • The longer the war in Ukraine drags on, the more the cost of deterring China goes up.
    Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
  • She had been strangled with a ligature, bludgeoned and dragged by a car into the desert wash, police said.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of drag
Verb
  • But misinformation still looms large, and the threat of the madness lingers on.
    Barry Levitt, TIME, 28 Nov. 2024
  • Whether someone makes up their mind within the first second or the first five minutes, that perception can linger.
    Scott Mautz, Contributor, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2024
Definition of linger
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.

Phrases Containing diddle

Thesaurus Entries Near diddle

did by

diddle

diddled

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Cite this Entry

“Diddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddle. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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