futzed
Wasted time adjusting
Futzed is the past tense of futz, meaning to waste time on aimless or ineffective activity.
To futz around is to fiddle without accomplishing much: I futzed around with the settings but couldn't fix it.
To futz with something is to tinker or meddle: Someone futzed with my computer while I was gone.
The word has Yiddish roots and carries a mildly dismissive tone.
Toyed idly with
- tinkeredAdjusted without expertise
- tweakedAltered in minor ways
- adjustedChanged to improve fit
- meddledInterfered without invitation
tampered · messed · fussed · toyed · played · poked · prodded · noodled
Poorly executed, spoiled
- bungledPerformed ineptly, failed
- blunderedMade a clumsy error
- flubbedMade an error
- muffedFailed to handle properly
goofed · fumbled · screwed · mishandled · mangled · butchered · muddled · spoiled
Carelessly used up
- fritteredWasted in small amounts
- dawdledMoved slowly, idly
- ditheredWas unable to decide
- loafedWas deliberately unproductive
puttered · idled · lollygagged · dallied · procrastinated · malingered · piddled · mucked
fiddled
Toyed idly with
meddled · tampered · messed · fussed · toyed · played · poked · prodded · noodled · diddled
botched
Poorly executed, spoiled
muffed · goofed · fumbled · screwed · mishandled · mangled · butchered · muddled · spoiled · garbled
squandered
Carelessly used up
loafed · puttered · idled · lollygagged · dallied · procrastinated · malingered · piddled · mucked · horsed
futzedfocused
Directing attention narrowly
accomplished · labored · concentrated · applied oneself · buckled down
futzeduntouched
Not contacted or affected
pristine · intact · unaltered · undisturbed · left alone
- futzing aroundIdle, unproductive dabbling
- futz aroundKill time unproductively
- futzed aroundIdled aimlessly, unproductively