Malinger
verb
Pretend to be ill, injured, or busy to avoid work or duty.
He didn't want to clean his room, so he was malingering about a fake headache
Often appears as...
- malinger about
- malinger around
verb
Exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work.
She was known to malinger to avoid late-night shifts at the hospital
Often appears as...
- malinger to avoid
- malinger from
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
Pretend to be ill, injured, or busy to avoid work or duty.
He didn't want to clean his room, so he was malingering about a fake headache
Often appears as...
- malinger about
- malinger around
verb
Exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work.
She was known to malinger to avoid late-night shifts at the hospital
Often appears as...
- malinger to avoid
- malinger from
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'malinger' often implies a judgment that the person is intentionally and dishonestly avoiding responsibility.
When he claimed to be sick again, his coworkers suspected he was malingering.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Undetectable
'Malinger' is used when the pretense is about something that's hard to verify, like a headache or fatigue.
Her frequent complaints of fatigue made her boss wonder if she was malingering.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Illness
While commonly about fake illness, 'malinger' can also relate to feigning other conditions to avoid duties.
He seemed to malinger with exaggerated technical issues to skip the meeting.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'malinger' often implies a judgment that the person is intentionally and dishonestly avoiding responsibility.
When he claimed to be sick again, his coworkers suspected he was malingering.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Undetectable
'Malinger' is used when the pretense is about something that's hard to verify, like a headache or fatigue.
Her frequent complaints of fatigue made her boss wonder if she was malingering.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Illness
While commonly about fake illness, 'malinger' can also relate to feigning other conditions to avoid duties.
He seemed to malinger with exaggerated technical issues to skip the meeting.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'malinger' often implies a judgment that the person is intentionally and dishonestly avoiding responsibility.
When he claimed to be sick again, his coworkers suspected he was malingering.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Undetectable
'Malinger' is used when the pretense is about something that's hard to verify, like a headache or fatigue.
Her frequent complaints of fatigue made her boss wonder if she was malingering.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Illness
While commonly about fake illness, 'malinger' can also relate to feigning other conditions to avoid duties.
He seemed to malinger with exaggerated technical issues to skip the meeting.
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