as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
returned home unannounced and found the au pair goofing off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof (off)
Noun
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Creators Michael Jacobs and April Kelly imbued endless love into the life story of Cory Matthews (Ben Savage): a witty neurotic who grew from a slacker sixth grader into a full-on family man across the series seven seasons and 158 episodes on ABC.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025 -
The most compelling evidence to debunk the myth that parents are slackers comes from a work team study.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Athletic has a story filled with tables of draft picks by schools and conferences. USC immediately stands out as an underachiever.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Enough results had been collected to ensure the Championship’s perennial underachievers began the day sitting most comfortably but tension was still a travel companion on the 40-mile trip to the East Midlands.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
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And while humans tend to veg out on the couch, canines typically only watch for short periods.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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Making the choice to be social is especially difficult at the end of an exhausting day when your impulse may be to veg out on the couch.—
Allie Volpe,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
Verb
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Here, several distinct sitting areas seem ideal for kicking back with some wine—the entire growing process visible from just beyond the rim of your glass.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
3 June 2025
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Despite the modernity, the space has inviting and homey details, like plush throw pillows, deep armchairs, and tons of coffee table books, allowing guests to kick back and admire their surroundings.—
Claudia Fisher,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2025
Verb
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There are two types of people in the summer: those who like to lounge at the beach, and others who want to get their hair wet and feet sandy, taking a dip in the ocean.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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The playful pup seems full of energy but is also happy to lounge around with his new owner.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Orlando rested its best offensive weapons after their return from international duty, opting to save them for the second half instead.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
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The second truck rolled before coming to rest on the median.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
Verb
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Get our daily newsletter Yet Mr Schwarzman avoids footling with life’s foot-soldiers for a reason.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
19 Sep. 2019
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Last year an American startup called Swarm Technologies paid a footling $900,000 fine for sending four tiny satellites into orbit on an Indian rocket, having been denied permission to do so by the US Federal Communications Commission.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
17 July 2019
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Cite this Entry
“Goof (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof%20%28off%29. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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