as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
the dillydallying congress hadn't passed any legislation, and the term was almost over
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
don't dillydally on the way to the store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dawdling
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dillydallying
Adjective
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Just like the trains themselves, these glamorous culinary experiences are reminiscent of the golden era of travel, with gracious table-settings, intricate confections, and a leisurely, unhurried pace.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026 -
The hike up took under two hours at a leisurely pace, and the 360-degree views of the entire island were surreal.—
James Barrett,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mist causing low visibility stopped training in the women's downhill skiing training session this morning, delaying Team USA's Lindsey Vonn's return to the slopes after suffering an ACL injury that threatened to keep her out of these Games altogether.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
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The sheriff leading the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie acknowledged that missteps were made in the case’s early hours, including removing crime scene tape and delaying requests for assistance from outside law enforcement agencies.—
Stepheny Price , Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
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Faster pit stops could also help unlock sales for electric two-wheelers, which have been slow to catch on due to dawdling charge times and limited riding range.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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The studio believes that February, once seen as a slow month for moviegoing, has become a much more lucrative corridor to release films.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
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What was once a slow squeeze has become an acute system failure for patients statewide.—
Andrew Hevesi,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Experts say a lingering cold air mass across the Midwest could keep temperatures below historical averages well into early spring.—
Brandi D. Addison,
IndyStar,
3 Feb. 2026
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By Monday, any lingering concerns about Warsh or his history of hawkishness had been largely put aside as Wall Street turned its attention to surprisingly strong US manufacturing data.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Why are states trying to reduce car idling?—
Anna Kleiber,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
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More than two dozen residents who spoke with NBC News describe officers in unmarked cars idling on neighborhood streets and agents going door to door.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Osage County District Judge Stuart Tate twice ruled against the attorney general’s office for dragging its feet in providing evidence to ET Gathering and Processing backing up the state’s complaints of market manipulation.—
Paul Monies,
Oklahoma Watch,
3 Feb. 2026
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All of the above has to be absolutely banned along with Border Patrol enforcement near the border, arrests or breaking down people’s doors without a real judicial warrant, and dragging people away regardless of their right to stay in America.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The contrast piping detail gives it something structured for the lounging expert, and takes the robe from being a symbol of laziness to a symbol of sustained self-care.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
2 Feb. 2026
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The pieces are made of a soft, wrinkle-resistant material that’s comfortable for traveling or lounging at home.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Dillydallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydallying. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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