as in to lazy
to pretend to be sick or injured in order to avoid doing work
Because of his frequent absences, his boss suspected he was malingering.
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Recent Examples of malinger
The entire day felt dehumanizing, as if her nearly eight years with the company, her medical problems and her physical pain had been reduced to nothing more than malingering and scattered incidents of tardiness.
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Greg Jaffe, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, practices in Chicago and has lectured on the topic of malingering, according to a resume posted online.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
But when workers take advantage of the manager’s kindly nature to malinger or disrupt operations, the entire business is threatened.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2022
The decision against Robert Krebs came after a psychologist determined Krebs didn’t have a mental illness or cognitive impairment and was instead malingering to avoid prosecution for the robbery last year in Tucson.
—Jacques Billeaud, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2019
On Monday, prosecutor Stuart Silberg said Ms. Ortega could have been malingering, or faking her psychiatric state.
—Corinne Ramey, WSJ, 31 July 2017
The question is obviously especially consequential when deeming a person malingering means they could be put to death.
—James Hamblin, The Atlantic, 5 May 2017
Greg Jaffe, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, practices in Chicago and has lectured on the topic of malingering, according to a resume posted online.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
But when workers take advantage of the manager’s kindly nature to malinger or disrupt operations, the entire business is threatened.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2022
The decision against Robert Krebs came after a psychologist determined Krebs didn’t have a mental illness or cognitive impairment and was instead malingering to avoid prosecution for the robbery last year in Tucson.
—Jacques Billeaud, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2019
On Monday, prosecutor Stuart Silberg said Ms. Ortega could have been malingering, or faking her psychiatric state.
—Corinne Ramey, WSJ, 31 July 2017
The question is obviously especially consequential when deeming a person malingering means they could be put to death.
—James Hamblin, The Atlantic, 5 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malinger
Verb
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My heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out the anticipatory purr of two ambulance engines idling nearby.Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Plus, the company furloughed 82 employees last week, and also idled its Oklahoma factory – where it's believed to have produced only a small number of vehicles for fleet customers.New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Did Phoebe get bummed out again because they were thrown out a second time?Bob Sassone, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
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Usher, Coming Home This is Usher’s best album since 2004’s Confessions, and I’m bummed that more people haven’t listened to it.Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The most pivotal moment of the first half was Reid’s interception in the end zone, a pre-snap coverage tactic that fooled Wilson and receiver George Pickens as the Chiefs presented a double-team look on Pickens.Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
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Automotive Monster 4x4 camper van is a go-anywhere work and camp machine October 14, 2024 Don't let its bright stripes fool you – the Iveco Daily Switch 4x4 was the meanest camper van at the year's largest RV Show.New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The vacuum also has a five-stage filtration system that thoroughly traps messes and prevents germs and allergens from spewing back into the air.Clara McMahon, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
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Georgia Tech coach Brent Key quietly has turned a Yellow Jackets mess back into a solid program.Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near malinger
Cite this Entry
“Malinger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malinger. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.
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