diddle

verb

did·​dle ˈdi-dᵊl How to pronounce diddle (audio)
diddled; diddling ˈdid-liŋ How to pronounce diddle (audio)
-dᵊl-iŋ
Synonyms of diddlenext

transitive verb

1
chiefly dialectal : to move with short rapid motions
2
: to waste (time) in trifling
3
: hoax, swindle
4
usually vulgar : to copulate with

intransitive verb

1
: dawdle, fool
2
: fiddle, toy
—usually used with with
diddled with the machine until it broke
diddler
ˈdid-lər How to pronounce diddle (audio)
-dᵊl-ər
noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of diddle in a Sentence

He had tried to diddle his insurance agency. She felt she had been diddled out of her inheritance.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diddle was in 1786

Rhymes for diddle

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Browse Nearby Words

didder
diddle
diddle away
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diddle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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