DALLY Synonyms: 190 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dally

verb

ˈda-lē

Definition of dally

as in to play

to engage in activity for amusement he spent his college years dallying, seemingly determined to acquire as little knowledge as possible

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to linger

to move or act slowly don't dally on the way to the interview

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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

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as in to dawdle

to spend time doing nothing I kept dallying at my desk until I couldn't put off doing my work any longer

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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 The full-backs, meanwhile, took their time from throw-ins, ensuring team-mates behind the ball were secure and Emiliano Martinez, who produced a second spellbinding save in as many visits to Nottingham, dallied from goal kicks. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026 But there is no need to dally, or shouldn’t be, on the question of who will record the next James Bond theme. — Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for dally

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dally

Verb

Nonetheless, bonds have played an integral if underappreciated part in humankind’s evolution from subsistence farming to the modern era.

— Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Haskins played the iconic principal in the long-running series from start to end.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of play

Verb

But one of them, perhaps too slow, or too confused, lingered a second longer, and the claw opened and snapped shut.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
As the duo row through pitch-black darkness toward the flame, John experiences harrowing visions of his father and of his younger self, revealed to be an effect of the fear toxin lingering in the air.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of linger

Verb

Matthew Stafford from the Los Angeles Rams shows up as a guy in a tux, and at one point, Cara Delevingne appears to flirt with Farrell.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
The report also suggested that the woman reported the accusations after learning that Cruz had been flirting with another inmate, the warrant affidavit said.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of flirt

Verb

Gvardiol looked jittery early on, rallied a little to break up some dangerous Porto attacks, but then started giving the ball away again and was booked for a needless pull after being caught dawdling in possession.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Don’t dawdle, though, as the air temperature in the room or your warm hand on the glass can transfer their thermal energy to melt the rest of the ice and then begin to raise the temperature of your drink!

— Matthew Koss, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of dawdle

Verb

The fight, Haro said, is about more than extending a lease or delaying an eviction.

— Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
Many airlines issue travel waivers during storms or weather advisories, allowing passengers to rebook their flights without any extra fees if it could be impacted or if it gets delayed or canceled.

— Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

Diesel engine idling and high-risk industrial activity across the street from homes and parks would bring air, noise and light pollution.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
And Rovell quickly discovered Kobe’s mind was incapable of idling, even during dead-of-night text exchanges.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of idle

Verb

The joy Lisa has with her RHUGT cast compared with the dread her RHOSLC cast seems to bring her really bums me out — especially because of how much of this trip is championing the sisterhood of Housewives.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
My conversation partner returned, somehow unable to bum even a single cigarette from anyone at this party.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 July 2026

Definition of bum

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dallies

dally

dallying

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“Dally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dally. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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