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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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 lazy

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 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 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 See All Example Sentences for dally

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dally

Verb

The bridge — which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario — was named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Starling Marte moved over to right field and Isaac Collins came in to play left field.

— Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

Definition of play

Verb

The floods drew attention to still unhealed wounds — and lingering regrets.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
But perhaps the performance that lingers most in our minds is that of Elliot Page, 39, who in just a few short scenes anchors the film with his guileless sincerity and righteous anger.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 July 2026

Definition of linger

Verb

Video of the confrontation appears to show Nelson idling in a snowy strip mall parking lot in his gray Dodge Ram when another driver in an even larger pickup pulls in beside him.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
One aspect that contributed to the gridlock was a number of Waymo's self-driving robotaxis idling on the road as traffic officials tried to remedy the halt in traffic.

— Noe Padilla, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Definition of idle

Verb

The European Space Agency’s ClearSpace-1, planned for 2029, tackles the harder case by capturing the unprepared, noncooperative Proba-1 satellite and dragging it down to burn up.

— Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
Hellerstein appeared skeptical that the parties would resolve all classified-information questions by June, noting that the process can drag on.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026

Definition of drag

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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 24 Jul. 2026.

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