Idle and Linger

Idle

Idle verb - To spend time doing nothing.
Usage example: she likes to idle during the summer, maintaining that there's a lot to be said for sloth

Linger is a synonym for idle in loiter topic. In some cases you can use "Linger" instead a verb "Idle".

Nearby Words: idled, idleness, idler, idling, idly

Linger

Linger verb - To move or act slowly.
Usage example: since they were charging by the hour, the house painters lingered in finishing up their work

Idle is a synonym for linger in loiter topic. Sometimes you can use "Idle" instead a verb "Linger", if it concerns topics such as stay.

Nearby Words: lingering, lingerer
Cite this Source
Linger and Idle. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/idle/linger
Idle & Linger. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/idle/linger>.
Linger or Idle. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/idle/linger.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "idle" and "linger" have occurred on timeline