I'm just puttering here by myself, fixing my computer.
Source: tatoeba (2096135)
Puttering
Synonyms for "puttering" (42 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (9)
Strong matches (12)
Related words (21)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adjust, calibration, casual, coquetry, creep.
- Sentence evidence is available for puttering, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, moby.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "puttering".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "puttering"
Keep "puttering" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "puttering" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "puttering", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "puttering" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
13 entriesactivitybehaviordescriptive adjectiveidle behaviormaintenancemanual activitymethod descriptormovementprocess descriptorprogressqualitative descriptortechnical activityunproductive activity
More specific
14 entriesadjustingcalibrationcasualcreeping alongdrifting forwardfiddlinggradualidleidle tasksincrementalleisurelylight chorespiecemealtinkering
Collocations
17 entriescasual maintenancefocused putteringgentle putteringharmless putteringidle activityidle putteringidle timeleisurely putteringlight choreslow intensity activitypurposeful putteringputtering activityputtering approachputtering aroundputtering paceputtering process
Showing 16 of 17 words.
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
3 total sentences available.
He set to work at once to enlarge the old Dutch stone cottage which stood upon the place; and from this time on he is continually "puttering" about the estate, building a poultry-yard here, planting trees there, with the full zeal of the rural landlord.
Source: tatoeba (11921340)
He has had legal and business training; so his complex is an ultimate scorn for the ineffectual fussings and putterings of men who have not been trained along practical lines — such as scientists.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "puttering"?
Closest matches include adjust, calibration, casual, coquetry, creep.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "puttering"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.