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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
Verb
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Early morning flights are typically the least likely to be canceled or delayed, and taking nonstop flights whenever possible reduces your chances of an issue during your journey.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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The vote for the student zoning was delayed after many parents and community members objected to a plan that would move around 100 elementary students at Marie G. Davis School in southwest Charlotte to the already overcrowded Dilworth Elementary for the 2025-26 school year.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2025
Verb
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The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering baking spice and a touch of aged oak.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
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After so much anticipation, some observers were disappointed by the lingering uncertainty over the exact whereabouts of the spacecraft’s grave.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
Verb
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According to PitchBook, venture capital deals dawdled in 2024—fewer funding deals took place, but those that did tended to have higher valuations.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Instead, season three of The White Lotus dawdles too long, trying to save too much of the good stuff for the end.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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During that same April 5 episode, Weekend Update’s Colin Jost poked fun at the singer in a bit about the economy.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
12 May 2025
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The contest did not last long as Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye 18 seconds into the second round.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Verb
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It is now applied to anyone who has not visited the shower trailer and is desperately trying to bum a cig.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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Grant invites Dina on the one-on-one, leaving the rest of the women feeling like this: Even though they’re bummed, the women keep their comments positive.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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When the window broke, the bear crawled out safely and returned to the woods.—
Shyla Watson,
People.com,
10 May 2025
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Inspectors saw one rat crawling from the top equipment shelf in an unapproved back dry storage area onto the roof, and another rat on an electrical line behind a two-door household freezer/refrigerator in the same dry storage area.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
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In March, steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs idled its Dearborn operations, laying off 600, due to tariffs.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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Stellantis has stopped making Chrysler minivans and Dodge muscle cars in Windsor, Ontario, for two weeks, idling about 3,200 of its employees.—
Ian Austen,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Andre needs some help The Brazil international midfielder dragged himself from the field near the end on Saturday, with Pereira later allaying any fears about an injury.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
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Gunther dragged Cole into the ring and threatened to power bomb Cole before McAfee interrupted with a bicycle kick.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dillydally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydally. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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