What does it mean to purposely avoid responsibilities and duties, often by pretending to be ill?

The term that accurately describes the act of purposely avoiding responsibilities and duties, often by pretending to be ill, is "malinger." This word originates from the French term "malinger," which means to feign illness to escape duty or work. Those who malinger typically exaggerate or fabricate symptoms with the intent of avoiding obligations, whether they be in a professional or personal context. It captures the essence of deceitfully obtaining an advantage by misrepresenting one's health status.

In contrast, the other terms do not fit this definition. "Maunder" means to talk in a rambling or incoherent manner, while "macerate" refers to the process of softening or breaking down something, typically food, in a liquid. "Ossified" describes the process of turning into bone or becoming rigid, often metaphorically used to refer to ideas or systems becoming outdated or inflexible. Therefore, "malinger" is precisely aligned with the concept of evading responsibilities through feigned illness.