1
as in panic
a state of nervous or irritated concern
Grandma usually gets in a dither if I don't make my weekly call
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2
as in butterflies
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness
we were all in a dither while we waited for the test results
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
we dithered all afternoon over whether to go to the park or to the movies and ended up doing neither
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dither
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
In Diane Keaton’s dithers is all the strength of American women.
—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
5 Jan. 2025
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
People shouted over each other as the performers dithered over ideas and raced around the venue.
—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dither
Noun
But that counterintuitive ranking, in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican statewide in years, has Democrats in a dither and reform advocates once again saying that California needs to shift to a more representative form of voting.
—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
In Diane Keaton’s dithers is all the strength of American women.
—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
Some people flourish right out of the gate, like Steve Jobs, who founded Apple at age 21 and—despite being pushed out and then asked back—never seemed to dither.
—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
People shouted over each other as the performers dithered over ideas and raced around the venue.
—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
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The resulting anxiety and panic are an unfortunate side effect of a banner year for fireworks shows.
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Sandy has taken flight, but not without sending eagle-eyed viewers of the Friends of Big Bear Valley eagle nest cam into a Sunday-morning panic.
Noun
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Everything that keeps the testicle alive and functional runs through the spermatic cord — arteries, veins, nerves and lymphatics, bundled together along with the vas deferens.
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Magnesium helps your muscles and nerves calm down, and can also play a role in the development of melatonin.
Verb
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Some foreign financial institutions could be more willing to do business with Iran, though many will probably hesitate unless the US Treasury issues specific licenses for particular transactions.
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The Duke wing unexpectedly fell out of the first round and into the Timberwolves’ lap at the start of Round 2 on Wednesday, and Minnesota didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Noun
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William Saliba — France/Arsenal (same) Saliba does everything on the pitch with a minimum of fuss.
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The flowy silhouette packs down without much fuss.
Noun
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This is sending shivers down the spines of regular Democrats, who now sheepishly admit the party has been turned over to the left-wing loons.
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The warning that exuberant investors might not be quite rational sent temporary shivers through global stock markets.
Verb
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Brazobán faltered, however, allowing a walk and two hits, the last of which being a two-out RBI single by Trae Turner that put the Phillies up, 2-1.
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Can Andy Burnham make the tough choices to succeed where others have faltered?
Noun
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Devers walked back to the dugout in a huff.
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David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.
Noun
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Because there is so much moisture in the air, your sweat will not evaporate fast enough to naturally cool your body.
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By the end of the movie, even something as natural as daylight has become suffused with a heavenly glow, and the beads of sweat on a dying body sparkle with a beauty that Emily had never been able to find anywhere else in her tragedy of a life.
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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