Definition

A person who spends time doing nothing or moving slowly instead of being productive.

Example

He is such a dawdler; he always takes forever to finish his homework.

Conversation

I can't believe how slow you are getting ready; are you a dawdler or what?

Hey, I'm just taking my time to make sure I look good!

Well, you know I prefer to be on time rather than waiting for a dawdler like you.

Alright, alright, I’ll hurry up this time!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dawdler → The word 'dawdler' originates from the verb 'dawdle', which is believed to come from the dialectal term 'dawdle' (meaning to waste time or be slow) and possibly influenced by the word 'dawd', which means to waste time or be idle. The suffix '-er' indicates a person who performs the action. Therefore, a 'dawdler' is a person who wastes time or is slow in their actions.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'wasting time' — that's what a 'dawdler' does, and the '-er' just means it's a person.

Visually Confused Words