What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
frittering
Example
He spent the whole day frittering away his time on social media. [frittering: verb]
Example
She regretted frittering her savings on unnecessary purchases. [frittering: gerund or present participle]
dawdle
Example
Don't dawdle, or we'll be late for the movie. [dawdle: verb]
Example
He always dawdles when it comes to finishing his homework. [dawdling: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dawdle is more commonly used than frittering in everyday language. Dawdle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while frittering is less common and refers to wasting resources or time on trivial matters.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between frittering and dawdle?
Both frittering and dawdling are informal words that are not typically used in formal contexts. However, dawdle is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.