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Definitions

boondoggle

[boon-dog-uhl, -daw-guhl] / ˈbunˌdɒg əl, -ˌdɔ gəl /
NOUN
deception
Synonyms
STRONGEST
betrayal deceit disinformation duplicity falsehood fraud hypocrisy lying mendacity treachery trickery untruth
STRONG
artifice beguilement blarney cheat circumvention cozenage craftiness cunning deceitfulness deceptiveness dissimulation double-dealing dupery equivocation flimflam fraudulence guile hokum imposition insincerity juggling legerdemain pretense prevarication sophism treason trickiness trumpery
WEAK
defraudation
Antonyms
STRONGEST
faithfulness forthrightness honesty loyalty sincerity truth
STRONG
openness
WEAK
frankness honor trustworthiness truthfulness uprightness
VERB
dally
Synonyms
STRONG
drag idle lag linger loiter lollygag procrastinate putter tarry trail
WEAK
fool around fool with fritter away hang about horse around jerk off play around play games with put off trifle with waste time while away
Antonyms
STRONG
complete finish go hurry leave rush
WEAK
hasten push

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Was it an exciting new form of entertainment, or a boondoggle?

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

He vehemently denied that the United States was entering into another long-term boondoggle in the Middle East.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

As often happens too, we can pinpoint the exact moment and exact dynamics when a policy boondoggle was born.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

Because of induced demand, this Sisyphean struggle against congestion is an expensive boondoggle.

From Slate • Aug. 28, 2024

Framed by million-dollar views and the multimillion dollar real estate of the Silversword Golf Course, the center seems like the ultimate scientific boondoggle.

From Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software by Williams, Sam

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.