shufflingly
Definition
Adverb: In a manner that involves dragging or scraping the feet, or characterized by evasiveness, hesitation, or deceit.
Usage Examples
- (Moving with a dragging, scraping gait.)
- (Responding in an evasive, hesitant manner.)
Advanced Usage
"to move shufflingly": to walk with a slow, dragging step, often indicating weariness or reluctance.
- The old man moved shufflingly through the snow, each step a laborious effort. (He walked with a dragging, unsteady gait.)
"to speak shufflingly": to speak in a way that avoids clarity or directness, often to deceive or delay.
- The politician spoke shufflingly about the scandal, offering no real answers. (He spoke evasively and with hesitation.)
Variants and Related Words
- Shuffle (verb): to drag or scrape the feet while walking; to mix or rearrange (as cards); to act evasively.
- He began to shuffle his feet nervously. (He moved his feet in a dragging motion.)
- Shuffling (adjective): characterized by a dragging gait or evasive behavior.
- His shuffling steps betrayed his exhaustion. (His steps were slow and dragging.)
Synonyms
- Draggingly: in a manner that involves pulling or drawing something along.
- Evasively: in a way that avoids giving a direct answer or commitment.
- Hesitantly: in a manner showing uncertainty or delay.
Related Idioms
Shuffle off: to get rid of or avoid something.
- He tried to shuffle off his responsibilities by blaming others. (He attempted to evade his duties.)
Shuffle through: to move or proceed in a slow, clumsy manner.
- She shuffled through the pile of papers, looking for the document. (She moved through them in a dragging, inefficient way.)