dawdle
Waste precious time
To dawdle is to move slowly or waste time, especially when you should be doing something else.
A child dawdles on the way to school; an adult dawdles over coffee instead of getting to work.
The word suggests leisurely delay rather than outright refusal: Stop dawdling and get dressed.
Delay one's leaving
- loiterRemain idly in place
- waitDelay until later
- hoverRemain suspended midair
- dallyLoiter without purpose
pause · bide · linger · mill about · hang around · stick around · remain · stay
Delay to later time
- deferDelay or submit
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- dilly-dallyWaste time idly
hesitate · shilly-shally · put off · dither · temporize · delay · drag feet · waste time
To travel without direction
- driftGradual movement, no direction
- wanderMove without fixed direction
- saunterRelaxed, aimless stride
- rambleMove or speak without direction
stroll · mosey · roam · amble · traipse · perambulate · directionless · purposeless
Become less tense
- unwindRelease accumulated tension
- strollRelaxed walk for enjoyment
- saunterRelaxed, aimless stride
- ambleRelaxed, slow gait
lounge · repose · unhurried · leisurely · easygoing · casual · carefree · languid
Failing to achieve results
- lazinessUnwillingness to exert oneself
- loafingPassing time idly
- loungingReclining in idleness
- indolenceAversion to activity
slothful · lollygagging · dillydallying · time-wasting · lackadaisical · listless · vegetating · frittering
tardy
Arriving past due
slow · drag · prolong · linger · tarry · dally · lag · unhurried · sluggish · plod
tarry
Delay one's leaving
dally · pause · bide · linger · mill about · hang around · stick around · remain · stay · hesitate
postpone
Delay to later time
- deferDelay or submit
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
dilly-dally · hesitate · shilly-shally · put off · dither · temporize · delay · drag feet · waste time · avoid
meander
To travel without direction
ramble · stroll · mosey · roam · amble · traipse · perambulate · directionless · purposeless · unfocused
relax
Become less tense
amble · lounge · repose · unhurried · leisurely · easygoing · casual · carefree · languid · laid-back
unproductive
Failing to achieve results
indolence · slothful · lollygagging · dillydallying · time-wasting · lackadaisical · listless · vegetating · frittering · idling
dawdlehustle
Energetic, aggressive action
push forward · make haste · press on · step on it · get cracking