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malinger

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How to pronounce malinger (audio)

Dictionary definition of malinger

To feign illness or disability in order to avoid work or responsibility.
"The patient's attempts to malinger were quickly detected by the medical staff."

Detailed meaning of malinger

It is often used to describe someone who is pretending to be sick or injured in order to shirk their duties or obligations. Malinger can also be used to describe someone who is exaggerating the extent of their illness or disability in order to gain sympathy or attention. When someone is malinger, they are typically trying to avoid something that they perceive as unpleasant or undesirable, such as work, school, or a social obligation. While malinger may seem like a harmless or even comical behavior, it can have serious consequences, especially in a professional or military context. Overall, malinger is a term used to describe someone who is pretending to be ill or disabled in order to avoid responsibility or work, and is often seen as a negative or dishonest behavior.

Example sentences of malinger

1. The employee was caught trying to malinger in order to get out of a work project.
2. The soldier was punished for attempting to malinger during a training exercise.
3. The student was reprimanded for malinger during a critical exam.
4. The worker's repeated attempts to malinger eventually led to his dismissal.
5. The defendant was suspected of malinger to avoid a trial.
6. The employee's frequent malinger led to a loss of trust from his coworkers.

History and etymology of malinger

The verb 'malinger' has its etymological roots in the French word 'malingre,' which means 'sickly' or 'ailing.' It is a combination of 'mal,' signifying 'bad' or 'ill,' and 'angre,' meaning 'thin' or 'weak.' Therefore, 'malinger' etymologically conveys the notion of pretending to be ill or weak. It describes the act of feigning illness or disability, often to avoid work or responsibility. The term 'malinger' underscores the intentional deception involved in pretending to be unwell or unfit for duty, highlighting the crafty and deceptive nature of such behavior. Its etymology reflects the idea of putting on a false appearance of sickness or weakness, akin to adopting a 'badly weak' facade to escape one's obligations.

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Further usage examples of malinger

1. The soldier's attempts to malinger were seen as a sign of weakness by his comrades.
2. The prisoner was caught trying to malinger in order to get out of jail time.
3. I suspect he may malinger to skip school.
4. You malinger when you pretend to have a headache to avoid doing chores.
5. He, she, or it may malinger by faking an injury to avoid physical activities.
6. We should not encourage employees to malinger by giving in to their excuses.
7. You (plural) should not malinger by pretending to have forgotten important deadlines.
8. They malinger by exaggerating their symptoms to receive attention.
9. I've noticed that she tends to malinger when faced with challenging tasks.
10. You shouldn't malinger just because you don't feel like attending the meeting.
11. He, she, or it may malinger to avoid taking on additional responsibilities.
12. We should address the issue of malingering in the workplace to promote productivity.
13. You (plural) must not malinger to escape from your obligations.
14. They malinger by intentionally dragging their feet on completing assignments.
15. I suspect she might malinger to gain sympathy from others.
16. You shouldn't malinger by pretending to be sick to get out of social events.
17. He, she, or it may malinger by feigning illness to avoid participating in group activities.
18. We must discourage malingering and encourage a strong work ethic.
19. You (plural) must not malinger to delay making important decisions.
20. They should not malinger as an excuse for their lack of effort.
21. I suspect he may malinger by pretending to have forgotten his responsibilities.
22. You shouldn't malinger to escape from the consequences of your actions.

dodge,lazy,loaf,pretend

eb68db_b9e82e00db8040a0b336f46030e12c64.mp3

shirk, toil, work hard, exert

avoid,evade,fake,idle,shirk,skive,truant

Prefix mal-, Deceit and Pretense, Personality and Character Traits, Clandestine and Conniving, Duplicity and Deceit, Manipulation and Deception, Dishonesty and Concealment

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