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time-wasting

ADJECTIVE
dilatory
Synonyms
WEAK
backward behindhand dallying delaying deliberate laggard late lax lazy leisurely lingering loitering moratory neglectful negligent putting off remiss slack slow sluggish snail-like tardy tarrying unhasty unhurried
Antonyms
WEAK
diligent eager enthusiastic hard-working ready zealous
ADJECTIVE
vain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
frivolous fruitless petty trivial
WEAK
abortive barren bootless delusive delusory empty going nowhere hollow idle in vicious circle inefficacious insignificant misleading no-win not a prayer nugatory on a treadmill otiose paltry pointless profitless puny senseless shuck slight sterile trifling unavailing unimportant unnotable unproductive unprofitable valueless void worthless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
consequential important significant useful
WEAK
modest possible shy
NOUN
idleness
Synonyms
STRONG
dawdling dormancy droning hibernation inactivity indolence inertia leisure lethargy loafing shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness sluggishness stupor torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment
WEAK
dilly-dallying goof-off time joblessness laze lazing loitering otiosity own sweet time pottering time on one's hands time to burn time to kill vegetating
Antonyms
STRONG
activity energy life liveliness vigor
WEAK
action ambition busyness diligence employment hustle industry labor occupation work
NOUN
inactivity
Synonyms
STRONGEST
lethargy sluggishness stagnation
STRONG
dawdling dormancy droning hibernation idleness indolence inertia inertness leisure loafing shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness stupor torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment
WEAK
dilly-dallying goof-off time inoperativeness joblessness laze lazing loitering otiosity own sweet time pottering time on one's hands time to burn time to kill vegetating
Antonyms
STRONGEST
energy vigor
STRONG
employment work
NOUN
inertness
Synonyms
STRONG
dawdling dormancy droning hibernation idleness inactivity indolence inertia leisure lethargy loafing shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness sluggishness stagnation stupor torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment
WEAK
dilly-dallying goof-off time inoperativeness joblessness laze lazing loitering otiosity own sweet time pottering time on one's hands time to burn time to kill vegetating
Antonyms
STRONG
activity busyness employment energy life liveliness vigor work
NOUN
inoperativeness
Synonyms
WEAK
dawdling dilly-dallying dormancy droning goof-off time hibernation idleness inactivity indolence inertia inertness joblessness laze lazing leisure lethargy loafing loitering otiosity own sweet time pottering shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness sluggishness stagnation stupor time on one's hands time to burn time to kill torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment vegetating

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.

See Examples For:

So now, in a move of epic and time-wasting redundancy, Disney has remade the movie in lockstep with that ubiquitous original.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Players and referees will need to adjust to several new rules being rolled out at the World Cup, including teams being required to make substitutions inside 10 seconds to prevent time-wasting.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

There has been some criticism of the Premier League amid claims it has become dull because of time-wasting tactics, VAR intervention, fatigue of players and an emphasis on systems rather than individuals.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

I have seen it happen against us so many times this season that I can understand that Martinelli might have thought that this is time-wasting as well.

From BBC ● Jan. 8, 2026

Books could be awesome mysteries to her, or they could be dangerous time-wasting nonsense.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler

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