DIDDLED Synonyms: 163 Similar and Opposite Words

diddled

verb

past tense of diddle

as in dragged

to move or act slowly even though the hurricane was fast approaching, federal and local politicians wasted precious time diddling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cheated

to rob by the use of trickery or threats an unscrupulous Broadway producer diddles little old ladies by persuading them to invest in a surefire flop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diddled

Verb

The winter chill that dragged digital assets down during most of the hot summer months is finally beginning to lift, with the price of Bitcoin surging about 20 percent last week, its strongest three-day rally since 2023.

— Peter Mintzberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
In 2024, Burke’s squad dragged itself off the mat after an awful (yet at the time, typical) start to the season to go unbeaten in 12 of 13 matches down the stretch and narrowly miss the playoffs.

— Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of dragged

Verb

The rest of us just got the surface, but who could feel cheated?

— Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Child safety advocates and some parents have welcomed age restrictions, while privacy groups say the rules can be cheated and that forcing users to supply identification raises privacy concerns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of cheated

Verb

Delane’s pro debut was delayed by a shoulder injury suffered in the spring, limiting his practice in OTAs and training camp.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
Urgent repair projects will be delayed, construction costs will multiply, and the visitor experience will inevitably decline as facilities fall into disrepair, risking the safety of millions of tourists and residents alike.

— Lulu Vilas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of delayed

Verb

Two of the men quickly hopped up and hustled down the sidewalk, while the third sat for a second before replacing the manhole cover, and walked away, the video shows.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026
Hate crime charges have been filed against a man who disrupted Shabbat services in Manhattan's Central Synagogue and struck two people while being hustled outside Friday night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of hustled

Verb

Tagovailoa on return, boos Falcons and former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was greeted with boos during Friday’s preseason game, lingered on the field afterward to embrace several former teammates and Dolphins staffers.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Young wound up going 8–5 as a starter and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, but tensions lingered.

— Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of lingered

Verb

Breakfast is at Fritz & Felix, lunch is squeezed into the Wintergarten conservatory, and dinner is either ordered to my room or eaten dressed up in the restaurants.

— Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026
Consumers show signs of strain Recent data indicate that some consumers' budgets are being squeezed.

— Lorie Konish, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of squeezed

Verb

Better together Industry analysts, experts and insiders have consistently poked holes in the states' argument that the combination of TV networks would create antitrust issues.

— Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
So too were the buildings, including my hotel, which poked through the seven-foot-high snowbanks, looking like an ancient shipwreck covered in shifting sand.

— Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of poked

Verb

Woodard went undrafted out of UNLV in 2025, and the Dolphins plucked him off the Texans’ practice squad in mid-December.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
If the Panthers didn’t want him, in other words, he’d probably be plucked off the waiver wire by someone else.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of plucked

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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diddle

diddled

diddled (with)

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“Diddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diddled. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of diddled

verb

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