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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2025
Hamlet, famously, vows revenge on his uncle, Claudius, for the murder of his father—but then he dithers, delays, and generally goes crazy, only killing Claudius at the very end of Shakespeare’s longest play.
—Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024
Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
But the dithering by Washington in providing tanks and training meant the operation, planned for early spring, would be delayed until the beginning of summer.
—Jamie McIntyre, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dither
Noun
In Diane Keaton’s dithers is all the strength of American women.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2025
Hamlet, famously, vows revenge on his uncle, Claudius, for the murder of his father—but then he dithers, delays, and generally goes crazy, only killing Claudius at the very end of Shakespeare’s longest play.
—Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
The West Ham captain opts to tee up Ferguson, who dithers with the opportunity, allowing Leicester defender Jannik Vestergaard to block the eventual shot.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
But the dithering by Washington in providing tanks and training meant the operation, planned for early spring, would be delayed until the beginning of summer.
—Jamie McIntyre, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
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As Mackey and Noem bust into the theater, the audience scrambles in panic.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
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The scream, the adults in the living room knocking over chairs and flying towards the terrace, Mr. Tiago and the boy’s father diving in with their clothes on and everything, the women standing at the pool’s edge in panic, crying.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Utilize available accessibility services and don't hesitate to request assistance when needed.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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This can have consequences: Children who hesitate to ask or answer questions risk becoming adults with the same habits.—
Shelbie Witte,
The Conversation,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Generous panes of glass disappears, allowing the interior to spill outdoors without fuss.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
With the Apple Watch SE, stay connected, track workouts, and get helpful safety features without overspending, all without fuss.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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High-multiple growth stocks often falter during economic slowdowns, as lower earnings growth leads to sharp contractions in valuation multiples.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Trump has made ending the conflict a major priority of his administration, though negotiations have faltered.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Getty Images To date, the post has amassed more than 900 comments from TikTok viewers, many of them poking fun at the golden retriever mother's annoyed expression and shallow huffs.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
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The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Before Sonic joined the game, McDonald’s sent fans into a tizzy after announcing that their beloved Snack Wraps would be back in action this summer.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
8 July 2025
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His victory has sent some major investors, New York business leaders and conservative news commentators into a tizzy over the now-very-real possibility that Mamdani, a three-term state assemblyman, will be the mayor of America's largest city.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Drenched in sweat, the group was all smiles hitting the bridge’s descent, the final leg before our finish line, Birdee, Kent Hospitality’s new bakery and café.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Aug. 2025
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An individual may produce as much as 2 to 3 gallons of sweat per day.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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