malingers
Feigns being sick
Malingers means pretends to be ill or incapacitated, typically to avoid work or duty.
The word carries strong suspicion of fakery—someone who malingers isn't just taking a sick day but deliberately feigning symptoms: He suspected the private was malingering to avoid patrol duty.
The noun malingerer describes the habitual faker.
Simulating something false
- shammingFalsely pretending
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- simulatingArtificially replicating something
- dissemblingConcealing true motives
faking illness · play-acting · putting on · counterfeiting · bluffing · posturing · fabricating · exaggerating
Avoiding obligatory tasks
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- evadingSkillfully keeping away from
- duckingBending to avoid impact
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
escaping · skiving · goldbricking · draft dodging · absenteeism · truancy · nonparticipation · excuse-making
Idle responsibility evader
- goldbrickShirk while appearing busy
- loaferLaceless slip-on shoe
- idlerHabitually unproductive person
- skiverSoft split leather
truant · layabout · ne'er-do-well · deadbeat · bludger · sluggard · faker · work-shy
Falsely claiming physical limitations
- presenteeismWorking while too sick
- unexcused absenceUnapproved failure to attend
- time theftCompensation for unworked hours
- occupational healthWorker wellbeing discipline
fitness for duty · return to work · light duty · medical certificate · sick note
faking
Simulating something false
- shammingFalsely pretending
- pretendingSimulating what isn't real
- simulatingArtificially replicating something
dissembling · faking illness · play-acting · putting on · counterfeiting · bluffing · posturing · fabricating · exaggerating · acting
shirking
Avoiding obligatory tasks
sidestepping · escaping · skiving · goldbricking · draft dodging · absenteeism · truancy · nonparticipation · excuse-making · calling in sick
slacker
Idle responsibility evader
skiver · truant · layabout · ne'er-do-well · deadbeat · bludger · sluggard · faker · work-shy · scrounger
disability fraud
Falsely claiming physical limitations
- presenteeismWorking while too sick
- unexcused absenceUnapproved failure to attend
- time theftCompensation for unworked hours
occupational health · fitness for duty · return to work · light duty · medical certificate · sick note
malingerssoldiers on
Continues despite struggle
perseveres · pushes through · toils · bears up · endures