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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dither
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
In Diane Keaton’s dithers is all the strength of American women.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2025
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
Following her nose to a funeral where Arthur has managed to convince the dithering family to cremate rather than go with burial, Elsbeth has her most down-to-the-wire crime-proving moment yet.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dither
Noun
His reluctance, according to a report Thursday by the Red Sox news site BoSox Injection, could open the door for another team to beat the Red Sox to the punch and sign Guerrero while Boston dithers over the size of his contract.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
In Diane Keaton’s dithers is all the strength of American women.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 5 Jan. 2025
Verb
When the museum dithered in its response, the group held a sit-in there.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
Following her nose to a funeral where Arthur has managed to convince the dithering family to cremate rather than go with burial, Elsbeth has her most down-to-the-wire crime-proving moment yet.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
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In 2022, then UK Prime Minister Liz Truss unleashed a wave of market panic with unfunded tax cuts that forced the Bank of England into emergency action after 30-year gilt yields soared by over 100 basis points.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
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Rebecca Ferguson stars as Captain Olivia Walker, a senior White House official tasked with keeping the government functioning as panic sets in, while Idris Elba plays a top national security adviser who must balance strategy with morality.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In Larsen’s view, striking at the right moment - whether in blockchain, AI, or precision medicine - requires not only patience but also the courage to act decisively when others hesitate.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Some executives hesitated, unsure of what to expect.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Featuring four polished wooden blocks in warm tones topped with knotted jute rope bows, the set adds an autumnal charm with minimal fuss.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra gives you a rugged, do-anything vibe without fuss.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over time, high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage nerves, kidneys, eyes, feet, skin, and other organs.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
6 Sep. 2025
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Whatever the manifestation—hair-tucking, shorts-pulling, ball-bouncing, bobbing, pocket-checking, or something else entirely—the familiarity of these motions can have a soothing effect, calming the player’s nerves before a big shot.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the business cycle… cycles, eventually growth will falter.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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But their defense, which had been their strong suit in recent seasons, faltered greatly and was also a major factor in their poor showing.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
24 Aug. 2025
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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
Noun
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Hank is a Dallas Cowboys diehard; the idea of Bobby getting into the Premier League sends him into full-body shivers.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Swift also touched on one of her recent hobbies, baking sourdough, and an on-the-field moment at the 2024 AFC title game that sent her into a tizzy.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
26 Aug. 2025
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Because Jacob never got around to naming a successor, everyone’s in a real tizzy over who is going to take control of the clan.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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