Synonyms of dither

dither 1 of 2

noun

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

• panic
• fuss
• huff
• fret
• tizzy
• sweat
• pother
• lather
• stew
• swivet
• swelter
• fluster
• dudgeon
• twitter
• bother
• hysteria
• pique
• alarum
• ado
• agitation
• hand-wringing
• delirium
• alarm
• nervous breakdown
• distraction
• furor
• uproar

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

• butterflies
• nerves
• shivers
• jitters
• willies
• shakes
• creeps
• jimjams
• hysteria
• heebie-jeebies
• fear
• cold sweat
• screaming meemies
• anxiety
• goose bumps
• fidgets
• whim-whams
• frazzle
• agitation
• nervous breakdown
• uneasiness
• skittishness
• jumpiness
• edginess

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• composure
• tranquillity
• equanimity
• tranquility
• aplomb
• imperturbability
• self-possession

dither

2 of 2

verb

ˈdi-t͟hər 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hesitate
• falter
• vacillate
• wait
• waver
• debate
• stagger
• scruple
• hang back
• halt
• wabble
• pause
• shilly-shally
• wobble
• balance
• delay
• dawdle
• teeter
• sway
• linger
• procrastinate
• ponder
• haw
• deliberate
• hem
• back down
• weigh
• chicken (out)
• oscillate
• equivocate
• consider
• waffle
• hedge
• pussyfoot
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decide
• continue
• stir
• dive (in)
• plunge (in)
• advance
• budge

Examples of dither in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Center Theatre Group, in a dither after Michael Ritchie’s lackluster tenure, is undergoing a search for its new leader. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023

Don’t know why Cowboys fans are all in a dither about Jerry Jones trading for Deebo Samuel, who wants out of San Francisco. —Dallas News, 26 Apr. 2022

Verb

Iran's mullahs seem hell-bent on crossing the nuclear threshold, having built up their capacity during years of dithering over the Iran nuclear deal known as the JCPOA. —Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 9 July 2024

The shah, secluded in his palace, slowly dying of cancer, dithered and blamed the CIA for his predicament. —Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 26 Feb. 2021