Dwaddle

Dwaddle (pronounced /ˈdwɒdəl/) is a somewhat archaic, informal verb meaning to waste time, dawdle, or move slowly, often in a directionless or unproductive manner. It implies a lack of purpose and efficiency in one's actions, and often suggests a degree of aimlessness or laziness. It can describe a physical slowness or a mental stagnation, where one's thoughts or activities are meandering and unproductive. The term suggests a leisurely pace without significant progress, often in the face of other, more pressing obligations. The connotation is generally negative, suggesting a lack of diligence or a failure to seize opportunities.

Dwaddle meaning with examples

• Instead of getting ready for the presentation, he dwaddled around the apartment, unable to focus on his notes. He kept checking his phone, making meaningless coffee, and generally wasting precious prep time. His lack of focus almost guaranteed that he would not be prepared for his presentation, and be judged harshly.
• The tourists, happy and relaxed, dwaddled along the cobblestone streets of the old city, stopping to take pictures of every beautiful building. They had no schedule to maintain, so were comfortable to take their time seeing the sights without any pressure to speed up. They reveled in the leisurely pace of sightseeing and the overall joy of their vacation.
• She felt a surge of frustration as her colleague dwaddled through the report, taking longer than necessary to complete a task that should have been done hours ago. Every task given to her would take hours longer than necessary. Eventually, she was forced to confront her co-worker, as it was impacting the team's performance.
• The old car dwaddled up the long hill, its engine struggling to cope with the incline. The old car's lack of power was a contrast to the new cars whizzing past them. Eventually the old car chugged to the top, barely able to make it. The driver was happy that the old car got it done!
• He knew he should be working on his assignment, but he kept dwaddling on social media, falling into the rabbit hole of the internet instead of being productive. His online habits distracted him from getting his school work completed. Unfortunately, the deadline was looming.