malingerer

/məˈlɪŋɡərə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /məˈlɪŋɡərər/ (ame, ipa)

malingerer — noun

  • malingerersingular
  • malingerersplural

1. someone who acts as if they are sick so they can get out of work or another duty

1.名詞C1
釋義

someone who acts as if they are sick so they can get out of work or another duty

例句

The sergeant accused Jude of being a malingerer after his third sick note.

pattern: accuse [someone] of being a malingerer

Some staff whispered that the new malingerer only coughed when the manager walked past.

contrast: symptoms appear only when authority is nearby

同義詞
  • shirker

    broader; someone who avoids work or duty in any way, not specifically by pretending illness

  • faker

    more informal and wider in meaning; can refer to any kind of pretence, not only avoiding duty

  • slacker

    everyday and less precise; suggests laziness rather than a deliberate false illness

反義詞
  • hard worker

    someone known for doing their duties instead of avoiding them

文法句型

a malingerer

call someone a malingerer

accuse someone of being a malingerer

用法筆記

Usually used when someone is suspected of pretending to be ill to escape work, military service, school, or another obligation. It is more common in disciplinary or official talk than in casual everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌Theo is a malingerer because he caught the flu.
✅Theo is off work with the flu.
💡'malingerer' means the illness is pretended, not real.