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as in to flirt
to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun she spent the summer dallying with a guy renting the neighboring beach house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word dally different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of dally are dawdle, delay, lag, loiter, and procrastinate. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When would delay be a good substitute for dally?

While in some cases nearly identical to dally, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

Where would lag be a reasonable alternative to dally?

Although the words lag and dally have much in common, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of dally?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows
children dawdling on their way home from school

When can procrastinate be used instead of dally?

While the synonyms procrastinate and dally are close in meaning, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dally While deleterious when recurring over the course of a lifetime, dilly-dallying can kill even quicker on a basketball court. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025 Arsenal need only look at title rivals Liverpool to see the dangers of dallying. James McNicholas, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025 The Dodgers were dallying in Scott's trade market ahead of the 2024 trade deadline before he was sent to the San Diego Padres along with reliever Bryan Hoeing for four minor league players. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Feb. 2025 There is a decision to be made — and after two years of dilly-dallying, it can’t be delayed any longer. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dally
Verb
  • Fashion and sociology experts say that, when examining the significance of any bold fashion statement such as Robbie's, context plays an important role.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The Yankees played an integral part in the remembrance of 9/11.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Yet Harris lingers near the top of the 2028 Democratic presidential contenders in most polling because the party lacks viable alternatives with comparable name identification.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This effortless touchpoint builds trust, catches lingering issues and creates loyal advocates who feel truly valued.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Designers Maxwell Osbourne and Dao-Yi Chow have been flirting with a brand relaunch, and what better time than fashion week?
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The conversations around the program will grow in volume if the Buffaloes flirt with a playoff berth or go on a lengthy losing streak.
    Sam Settleman, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • More than 300 flights were delayed at Denver International Airport on Saturday due to a ground delay caused by thunderstorms in the area.
    Marco Cummings, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Previously, researchers faced strict regulations that could delay their work.
    Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But while the new movie dawdles on its way to Toxie’s origins, then rushes toward a finale with a lurching rhythm that verges on calculated ineptitude, its spirit never feels inauthentic.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • This is not about dragging NATO into war.
    David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • After being struck from behind, he was dragged to the ground and mauled him, with other lions joined in, per Khaosod English.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The San Diego State football team, idle over the weekend, has had two weeks to prepare for this weekend’s nonconference game against Cal.
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Avoid excessive idling and do not top off when refueling motor vehicles.
    Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • And to get there, visitors will have to make their way through scare zones brimming with crawling monsters and roaring chainsaws.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Insects crawled through clinical areas, and staff food was stored alongside medical supplies.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dally. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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