malingerers
Those feigning illness
Malingerers are people who fake or exaggerate illness or injury to avoid work or duty.
The word carries strong disapproval—malingerers aren't simply sick people taking time off but deceivers exploiting sympathy: The sergeant suspected malingerers among the soldiers reporting to sick bay.
Military and workplace contexts dominate its use.
Those who evade duties
- goldbrickersThose who shirk duties
- slackersThose who avoid effort
- skiversThose who avoid obligations
- loafersLaceless slip-on shoes
dodgers · fakers · idlers · layabouts · bludgers · skulkers · clock-watchers · time-wasters
Excessive illness worry
- factitiousProduced by human effort
- MunchausenPathological liar archetype
- symptomsIndicators of disease
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
sick leave · disability · compensation · examination · doctor's note · insurance claim · workers' comp · infirmary
Pretending to feel something
- fakingSimulating something false
- shammingFalsely pretending
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- simulatingArtificially replicating something
fabricating · dissembling · exaggerating · misrepresenting · falsifying · pretense · charade · subterfuge
Avoiding obligatory tasks
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
- escapingDeparting confinement hastily
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
ducking · skirting · eluding · avoiding · skipping · truancy · absenteeism · desertion
One who avoids compulsory enlistment
- deserterOne who abandons duty
- cowardPerson lacking bravery
- shirkerOne who avoids duty
- sick callNotification of illness
barracks lawyer · goldbrick · combat fatigue · shell shock · AWOL · discharge · exemption · deferment
shirkers
Those who evade duties
- goldbrickersThose who shirk duties
- slackersThose who avoid effort
- skiversThose who avoid obligations
loafers · dodgers · fakers · idlers · layabouts · bludgers · skulkers · clock-watchers · time-wasters · shammers
hypochondria
Excessive illness worry
- factitiousProduced by human effort
- MunchausenPathological liar archetype
- symptomsIndicators of disease
diagnosis · sick leave · disability · compensation · examination · doctor's note · insurance claim · workers' comp · infirmary · sick bay
feigning
Pretending to feel something
- fakingSimulating something false
- shammingFalsely pretending
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
simulating · fabricating · dissembling · exaggerating · misrepresenting · falsifying · pretense · charade · subterfuge · imposture
shirking
Avoiding obligatory tasks
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
- escapingDeparting confinement hastily
sidestepping · ducking · skirting · eluding · avoiding · skipping · truancy · absenteeism · desertion · flight
draft dodger
One who avoids compulsory enlistment
sick call · barracks lawyer · goldbrick · combat fatigue · shell shock · AWOL · discharge · exemption · deferment · conscription
malingerersstoics
Uncomplaining hardship bearers
troupers · truth-tellers · soldiers · stalwarts · fighters
malingerersstrivers
People who work hard
eager beavers · go-getters · grafters · workhorses · troopers