Looking for synonyms for waste time? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say waste time.
- Procrastinate
- Dilly-dally
- Loiter
- Lollygag
- Dawdle
- Idle
- Lag
- Dally
- Tarry
- Fritter away
- Squander
- Trifle
- Linger
- Meander
- Amble
Want to learn how to say waste time professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Procrastinate
Used to describe delaying or postponing an action.
Example: “The team shouldn’t procrastinate on the quarterly report submission.”
2. Dilly-dally
Appropriate for aimless or needless wasting of time, often in an indecisive manner.
Example: “We can’t afford to dilly-dally in making the final decision on the project.”
3. Loiter
Used when someone remains in an area for no particular purpose or without a clear goal.
Example: “Employees are discouraged from loitering in the office corridors during work hours.”
4. Lollygag
Appropriate for spending time aimlessly or in an idle manner.
Example: “The manager noted that lollygagging during work hours was unacceptable.”
5. Dawdle
Suitable for moving or acting too slowly, indicating a lack of urgency.
Example: “We must ensure that no team member dawdles on critical tasks.”
6. Idle
Used for being unproductive or inactive, especially when there is work to be done.
Example: “Idling away the hours is not an option when deadlines are approaching.”
7. Lag
Appropriate for falling behind in movement, progress, or development.
Example: “The project began to lag due to the team’s lack of focus.”
8. Dally
Suitable for acting slowly or not seriously, often leading to wasted time.
Example: “There’s no time to dally on the details if we want to meet our launch date.”
9. Tarry
Used for delaying or procrastinating, especially by lingering or hesitating.
Example: “We cannot afford to tarry in implementing the new strategy.”
10. Fritter Away
Appropriate for wasting time, money, or energy on trivial matters.
Example: “The committee cautioned against frittering away the budget on non-essential items.”
11. Squander
Used for wasting something in a reckless or foolish manner.
Example: “Squandering valuable time on ineffective strategies is not advisable.”
12. Trifle
Suitable for treating something without seriousness or respect, often leading to wasted effort.
Example: “Trifling with the new software without proper training is inefficient.”
13. Linger
Used for spending longer than necessary in a place or on an activity.
Example: “Lingering over minor details can delay the entire project timeline.”
14. Meander
Appropriate for proceeding aimlessly or with little purpose.
Example: “The meeting meandered without a clear agenda, wasting valuable time.”
15. Amble
Suitable for moving at a slow, relaxed pace, not suitable in time-sensitive situations.
Example: “Ambling through the preparation phase will put the project at risk.”
