1
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
I didn't shilly-shally but instead raced to the hospital as soon as I heard the news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to delay
to move or act slowly
with dinner guests due in two hours, there was no time to shilly-shally in front of the TV set
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
the construction project was once again delayed by the bureaucratic shilly-shally of regulatory agencies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shilly-shallying
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shally
Verb
-
The Bears quarterback didn't hesitate to offer some self-criticism in his postgame remarks either.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025 -
Look for Maker’s Marks While at the thrift store, don’t hesitate to turn an item over to inspect it further.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Production began in early 2024 after being delayed by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Trump has frequently used tariffs as part of foreign policy negotiations in his second term, but many of them were reduced or delayed.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But even if the cultural hesitation fades, there are a few hurdles unique to building platonic bonds online.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
26 Sep. 2025
-
That moment of hesitation often makes the difference between staying safe and becoming a victim.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Max Verstappen's victories in the last two Grands Prix have brought him back into the championship fight, although the 69-point gap to Piastri can only be achieved if McLaren falters on every race weekend.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Years later, Rick Ankiel, a Cardinals pitcher, could no longer throw strikes—yet, when he was moved to the outfield, his accuracy rarely faltered from a greater distance.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Violet Affleck, the eldest daughter of A-listers Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, is sounding the alarm on the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Repressed and lingering scars from childhood can certainly cause pain for entire communities and be a catalyst for terrible and reprehensible behaviors.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Educational research shows that spoken practice strengthens memory and reduces hesitancy more effectively than passive drills, which is why Airlearn places conversation at the core of its design.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Still, there was a lingering hesitancy that often got in his way.—
Stephen Galloway,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But many dissidents felt profoundly ambivalent toward a society that, despite having become better educated and more urbanized, was also more dependent than ever on the state.—
Benjamin Nathans
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Still, during her life, Hagerty remained ambivalent about her brush with fame.—
Hannah Shirley,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That meant Hufanga spent a good chunk of the offseason not just learning a new system, but getting poked and prodded by his new coaches and running mate Jones.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The star compares calling out the sketch, which poked fun at her accent and teeth, to confronting a bully.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shally. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share