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dillydally

verb

ˈdi-lē-ˌda-lē How to pronounce dillydally (audio)
Definition of dillydallynext
1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly don't dillydally on the way to the store

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing restaurant employees who, during the slow periods, would rather be doing something instead of just dillydallying

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dillydally There was the tapping of the top of the bat to his toes, scribbling in the dirt, adjusting his gloves and swiping his shoulder, among other displays of dillydallying. — Anna Brand, CNN, 30 Mar. 2023 Bathroom breaks and other excuses for dillydallying give your heart rate a chance to return to normal. — Elizabeth Narins, Cosmopolitan, 22 May 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dillydally
  1. delay
  2. dawdle
  3. linger
  4. idle
  5. drag
  6. bum
  7. poke
  8. relax
Verb
  • Peterson agreed without hesitation to stay on and help with the funeral, delaying the start of his new position by two weeks.
    — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • While some homeowners like to overseed warm-season lawns with a cool-season grass to keep the lawn green all winter, overseeding a permanent warm-season lawn with cool-season grasses may actually weaken it by delaying next spring’s early growth.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of delay
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
  • Still, there was a cloud of public doubt lingering over the event.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The afterburn of his relationship with Charleson lingers affectingly, though.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of linger
Verb
  • Working with Nic was like driving a Lamborghini that could shift from unbreakable speed to idling like a purring lioness.
    — Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Brampton Assembly Plant, which was previously slated to build the Jeep Compass before Stellantis moved the product out of Canada in 2025 to avoid tariffs, has been idled since 2023.
    — Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of idle
Verb
  • And my sister dragged me to Loulu, the café-market with an Erewhon collaboration and Cosmic Bliss soft-serve, a lovely afternoon fix for those of us on the East Coast without an Erewhon.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Potelle’s home — like many others’ — remains contaminated as disputes with her insurance company drag on.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of drag
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
Verb
  • The dog’s ribs poked out, her skin was irritated and red, and patches of fur were missing — a possible sign of mange.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Natural light pokes through the windows, adding a trademark freshness to an indoor coliseum.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • Andrew took the opportunity to relax, laying down on the sofa in the living area.
    — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Clean, relax and play with this calming bubble bath made from a nontoxic, hypoallergenic and tear-free solution that has been formulated without parabens, sulfates or fragrance.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of relax

Browse Nearby Words

dillydallies
dillydally
dillydallying
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Cite this Entry

“Dillydally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydally. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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