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Definitions

boondoggle

[boon-dog-uhl, -daw-guhl] / ˈbunˌdɒg əl, -ˌdɔ gəl /
NOUN
deception
Synonyms
STRONGEST
betrayal deceit disinformation duplicity falsehood fraud hypocrisy lying mendacity treachery trickery untruth
STRONG
artifice beguilement blarney cheat circumvention cozenage craftiness cunning deceitfulness deceptiveness dissimulation double-dealing dupery equivocation flimflam fraudulence guile hokum imposition insincerity juggling legerdemain pretense prevarication sophism treason trickiness trumpery
WEAK
defraudation
Antonyms
STRONGEST
faithfulness forthrightness honesty loyalty sincerity truth
STRONG
openness
WEAK
frankness honor trustworthiness truthfulness uprightness
VERB
dally
Synonyms
STRONG
drag idle lag linger loiter lollygag procrastinate putter tarry trail
WEAK
fool around fool with fritter away hang about horse around jerk off play around play games with put off trifle with waste time while away
Antonyms
STRONG
complete finish go hurry leave rush
WEAK
hasten push

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.

Was it an exciting new form of entertainment, or a boondoggle?

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

He vehemently denied that the United States was entering into another long-term boondoggle in the Middle East.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

What we got instead was a colossal boondoggle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

Opponents, including agencies in the Delta and environmental advocates, say the project is an expensive boondoggle that would harm the environment and communities, and that the state should pursue other alternatives.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2025

The United States has not embarked upon its formidable program of space exploration in order to make or perpetuate a gigantic astronautic boondoggle.

From The Practical Values of Space Exploration Report of the Committee on Science and Astronautics, U.S. House of Representatives, Eighty-Sixth Congress, Second Session by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Astronautics.