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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The best way to begin your excursion is with a leisurely stroll around the village’s 19th-century cemetery, where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow author Washington Irving is buried.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
18 Oct. 2025 -
It all still gets done, but at a more leisurely pace.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Unusually warm and dry weather from late September into early October may be delaying peak fall color in some places, and could also result in a shorter, less vibrant season, said Adam Schneider, assistant professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, in a recent blog post.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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For many families and vulnerable individuals, the cost could be prohibitive, potentially delaying or blocking access.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
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Audition is a slow burn, spending the better part of two hours setting up audiences for arguably one of the most graphic climaxes in horror history.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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Tai chi is a form of exercise that involves slow, gentle movements and balancing poses.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Chad Molter, executive director of Boulder’s Harvest of Hope Pantry, is also worried about how the lingering government shutdown could surge demand.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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After seeing consistent playing time following his February 2024 trade from Memphis and hitting a clutch 3-pointer to help Boston win Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas, Tillman tumbled down the depth chart in 2024-25, the result of poor shooting and lingering knee issues.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shopkeepers lightheartedly gossip in rich drawling accents, and pickup trucks make up the majority of the vehicles idling at one of the few stoplights in town.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
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The filtration system must be robust enough to perform under stop-and-go driving, prolonged idling and urban pollution while also remaining effective between filter replacements.—
Anan Bishara,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The mogul then posted a clip of herself poking fun at her look while getting final touch-ups of her face mask from her glam team at the Academy Museum gala.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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But instead, teammate Nick Cousins was poking a little fun at Pinto’s contract situation and drew some laughs, including from Pinto himself.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The company also collaborated with Nike last month to launch an initial three core activewear collections and four seasonal collections, featuring pieces designed for everything from strength training and everyday workouts to lounging and running errands.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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Imagine hosting a cozy dinner party under the stars, morning coffee with a view, or simply lounging with a good book in the sunshine—all without ever leaving your own space.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dillydallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydallying. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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