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Showing results for loitering. Search instead for loiterin.
Definitions

loitering

[loi-ter-ing] / ˈlɔɪ tər ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
dilatory
Synonyms
WEAK
backward behindhand dallying delaying deliberate laggard late lax lazy leisurely lingering moratory neglectful negligent putting off remiss slack slow sluggish snail-like tardy tarrying time-wasting unhasty unhurried
Antonyms
WEAK
diligent eager enthusiastic hard-working ready zealous
ADJECTIVE
slow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
easy gradual heavy lackadaisical leisurely lethargic moderate passive quiet reluctant sluggish stagnant
STRONG
crawling creeping dawdling delaying deliberate disinclined idle lagging measured plodding postponing procrastinating slack
WEAK
apathetic bit-by-bit dilatory dreamy drowsy imperceptible inactive indolent inert laggard leaden listless negligent phlegmatic ponderous remiss sleepy slothful slow-moving snaillike supine tardy torpid tortoiselike
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active complex complicated energetic enthusiastic intricate lively moving
WEAK
busy cognizant fast hurried intelligent on cue on time quick rapid ready smart waiting
ADJECTIVE
slow-footed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
tardy
WEAK
apathetic crawling creeping dawdling delaying deliberate dilatory disinclined dreamy drowsy easy gradual heavy idle imperceptible inactive indolent inert lackadaisical laggard lagging leaden leisurely lethargic listless measured moderate negligent passive phlegmatic plodding ponderous postponing procrastinating quiet reluctant remiss slack sleepy slothful slow-going slow-moving slow-paced sluggish snaillike stagnant supine torpid tortoiselike
ADJECTIVE
slow-going
Synonyms
WEAK
apathetic crawling creeping dawdling delaying deliberate dilatory disinclined dreamy drowsy easy gradual heavy idle imperceptible inactive indolent inert lackadaisical laggard lagging leaden leisurely lethargic listless measured moderate negligent passive phlegmatic plodding ponderous postponing procrastinating quiet reluctant remiss slack sleepy slothful slow-footed slow-moving slow-paced sluggish snaillike stagnant supine tardy torpid tortoiselike
ADJECTIVE
slow-paced
Synonyms
WEAK
apathetic crawling creeping dawdling delaying deliberate dilatory disinclined dreamy drowsy easy gradual heavy idle imperceptible inactive indolent inert lackadaisical laggard lagging leaden leisurely lethargic listless measured moderate negligent passive phlegmatic plodding ponderous postponing procrastinating quiet reluctant remiss slack sleepy slothful slow-footed slow-going slow-moving sluggish snaillike stagnant supine tardy torpid tortoiselike
ADJECTIVE
tardy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
belated delayed delinquent overdue sluggish
WEAK
backward behindhand dawdling detained dilatory held up hung up in a bind jammed laggard not arrived not done procrastinating slack slow strapped for time too late unpunctual
Antonyms
STRONGEST
early
WEAK
on time prompt punctual ready
ADJECTIVE
trifling
Synonyms
STRONG
dinky empty hollow idle idling minuscule niggling petty piddling shallow silly slight small
WEAK
banal forget it frivolous inane inconsequential inconsiderable insipid jejune measly negligible no big deal no big thing nugatory paltry picayune puny tiny trivial unimportant vain valueless vapid
Antonyms
STRONG
big effective full huge important large major productive significant
WEAK
useful worthwhile
ADJECTIVE
unoccupied
Synonyms
WEAK
disengaged inactive lazy quiescent unemployed unengaged
Antonyms
WEAK
active busy engaged full industrious inhabited occupied populated
NOUN
dalliance
Synonyms
STRONG
delay idling loafing playing poking procrastination toying trifling
WEAK
dabbling delaying dilly-dallying frittering frivoling procrastinating puttering
Antonyms
WEAK
hastening hurrying push rush
NOUN
delay
Synonyms
STRONGEST
lag moratorium postponement problem setback stoppage suspension wait
STRONG
adjournment bind check cunctation dawdling demurral detention discontinuation downtime filibuster hindrance holding impediment interval jam lingering logjam obstruction procrastination prorogation remission reprieve retardation showstopper stall stay stop surcease tarrying tie up
WEAK
cooling-off period hangup holding pattern holdup putting off retardment
Antonyms
STRONGEST
continuation
STRONG
advance aid assistance beginning go help liberation promotion support
WEAK
dispatch expedition furtherance hastening hurry rush speed
NOUN
idleness
Synonyms
STRONG
dawdling dormancy droning hibernation inactivity indolence inertia leisure lethargy loafing shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness sluggishness stupor torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment
WEAK
dilly-dallying goof-off time joblessness laze lazing otiosity own sweet time pottering time on one's hands time to burn time to kill time-wasting vegetating
Antonyms
STRONG
activity energy life liveliness vigor
WEAK
action ambition busyness diligence employment hustle industry labor occupation work
NOUN
inactivity
Synonyms
STRONGEST
lethargy sluggishness stagnation
STRONG
dawdling dormancy droning hibernation idleness indolence inertia inertness leisure loafing shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness stupor torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment
WEAK
dilly-dallying goof-off time inoperativeness joblessness laze lazing otiosity own sweet time pottering time on one's hands time to burn time to kill time-wasting vegetating
Antonyms
STRONGEST
energy vigor
STRONG
employment work
NOUN
inertness
Synonyms
STRONG
dawdling dormancy droning hibernation idleness inactivity indolence inertia leisure lethargy loafing shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness sluggishness stagnation stupor torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment
WEAK
dilly-dallying goof-off time inoperativeness joblessness laze lazing otiosity own sweet time pottering time on one's hands time to burn time to kill time-wasting vegetating
Antonyms
STRONG
activity busyness employment energy life liveliness vigor work
NOUN
inoperativeness
Synonyms
WEAK
dawdling dilly-dallying dormancy droning goof-off time hibernation idleness inactivity indolence inertia inertness joblessness laze lazing leisure lethargy loafing otiosity own sweet time pottering shiftlessness sloth slothfulness slouch slowness sluggishness stagnation stupor time on one's hands time to burn time to kill time-wasting torpidity torpor trifling truancy unemployment vegetating
NOUN
retardation
Synonyms
STRONG
adjournment bind check cunctation dawdling demurral detainment detention discontinuation downtime filibuster hindrance holdup impediment interval jam lag lingering logjam moratorium obstruction postponement problem procrastination prorogation remission reprieve setback showstopper stall stay stop stoppage surcease suspension tie up wait
WEAK
cooling-off period hangup holding pattern putting off retardment tarrying
Antonyms
STRONG
advance aid assistance beginning boon boost continuation go help liberation promotion start support

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.

The Defense Department last week paid AeroVironment $186 million for the first procurement in a five-year, $990 million contract for its Switchblade loitering missile systems.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 2, 2026

Some were held on loitering charges, while others were detained over their perceived "incorrigibility."

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

About 75 tankers are loitering in Venezuelan waters, and half are on Treasury’s blacklist for sanctions violators, according to TankerTrackers.com.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

Deputies discovered the victim, a resident of North Carolina, and Govantes acting suspiciously and loitering outside a Sephora store in Chino Hills on Saturday afternoon, according to deputies.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025

He leaves, only to be arrested in town—twice, both times for loitering.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.