as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the dallying diners seemed oblivious to the fact that other customers were impatiently waiting for tables
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in loafing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in playing
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
2
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
don't dally on the way to the interview
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3
as in flirting
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
4
as in dawdling
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dallying
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
Eventually, even the film itself seems over all of the dilly-dallying.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dallying
Adjective
-
For those seeking a more leisurely route, expedition cruises (like HX Expeditions, Silversea Cruises, and MSC Cruises) not only allows travelers to take in breathtaking views along the way, but also avoids the weather unpredictability of Arctic air travel.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Sports cars are a different breed anyway, with cornering dynamics that make even a fairly leisurely drive on city streets in Southern California feel at times like a day at the track.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
Freep.com,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The researchers concluded that at least one of the keys to preventing social loafing is restoring individual responsibility within a group.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Simmons fits in nicely alongside eighth-graders Ella Parece and Molly Buffington, all playing a big role in the run this time.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
-
The Knicks are playing Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight at home, in the Garden.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
While many campuses were delaying scholarship decisions until the government resolved problems with a new financial aid form, Swarthmore used other data to figure out applicants’ financial need.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Moscow has repeatedly said that Zelensky was not the legitimate leader of Ukraine and as such could not negotiate any peace deal but this has been seen by critics as aimed at delaying an end to Putin’s aggression.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Sharking, which refers to the act of pursuing someone, often with the intention of flirting or trying to impress them in a somewhat aggressive manner.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Romantic relationships between adults include kissing and flirting, and one of the family members is gay and brings her girlfriend home for the holidays.—
Katie Grant,
Parents,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Indeed, Ederson has moments where he can be caught dawdling with the ball, hoping for an opening that doesn’t always arrive.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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A little snow in the morning; cloudy, chilly; slow and slippery travel in the morning; improving road conditions in the afternoon.—
Jackie Borchardt,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Liverpool have been much slower starters, getting outscored 6-8 in Premier League first halves (and 1-4 in the opening 15 minutes of their games).—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The pup, named Eba, appeared immune to being rushed and trotted behind at the farthest extent of her leash, tongue lolling, black eyes squinting in the afternoon sun.—
Kelso Harper,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
-
After a few days of snorkeling and beach-lolling, the view from our helicopter transfer to the Miavana resort on the island of Nosy Ankao just off Madagascar’s northeast, painted an alarmingly different picture.—
Chris Schalkx,
Vogue,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dallying. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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