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
-
Doing so will give you easy access to the beach and make leisurely days of fun in the sun more accessible.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026 -
This mini dress pairs classic white polka dots with a nautical navy base, nodding to the breezy sailor-chic trend while remaining versatile enough to wear as a beach cover-up, a sunny sightseeing outfit, or for leisurely island walks.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The law, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, allowed for a single extension delaying the restriction under certain conditions, Warner noted.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Trouble at an Xcel Energy substation caused a power outage lasting about an hour that triggered a Federal Aviation Administration order to ground flights to Denver International Airport on Wednesday morning, leading to darkness and disarray in DIA and delaying thousands of travelers.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
-
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
-
This chaged profile results in improved satiety and a slower blood sugar spike.—
Jahnavi Rapaka,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2026
-
That alone would create a challenging year for water managers, who rely on slow and steady snowmelt to feed streams, rivers and reservoirs and meet spring and summer demand for irrigation and drinking water.—
Mira Rojanasakul,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Edwards will finish the season with a career low in games played, having already missed four games with a right hamstring strain and a total of six games over three different stretches with a lingering right foot injury.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That said, with the Cboe Volatility Index still lingering in the 20s, this is not the time to go heavy.—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This shuts off the engine at stoplights or when idling, and restarts it once the accelerator is pressed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Large traffic volumes have resulted in Chinatown becoming an epicenter of poor air quality due to idling cars.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jones continued to pull on the bag, dragging the man around, according to the footage.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Pulled straight out of Ireland and dropped onto 14th Street, Grace’s boasts dim candlelight, brotherly bartenders, and a leveled grit that leaves you teetering between kicking off a folk song or dragging from a cigarette from a stranger outside.—
Charlie Hobbs,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The experience also includes a chef, bartender, paddleboards, snorkel gear, and floating mats for lounging between swims.—
Latifah Al Hazza,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Amenities include lush landscaped areas, pools, spas, lounging areas, a pavilion and 14 private boat slips.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Dillydallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydallying. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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