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
Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Kudos for persistence, but slam the leadership dithering.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 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
But don’t just stand there and dither until the world gets around to squashing you like a bug.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Kudos for persistence, but slam the leadership dithering.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
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On an evening that began with panic in USC’s backfield, the walk-on gave Riley reason to exhale amid the chaos.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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The colorless liquid is now responsible for an ongoing health crisis that has triggered a nationwide panic affecting about 100 million people across six states in Brazil, according to health authorities.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Because life—even for us jaded adults—should be for the seizing, not for hesitating in the face of fear.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
9 Oct. 2025
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Upon receiving the handoff, Pacheco hesitated for a beat before faking left, juking right and breaking a tackle on the way to his longest rush of the season — a 16-yard gain on a drive that ended in a Kansas City touchdown.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Each one brings serious value without any fuss.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Fazit Looking to level up your makeup without the fuss?—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Instead, cells at the site revert to a stem-like state, forming a blastema, a miniature limb-making factory that reconstructs bones, muscles, nerves, and skin with flawless precision.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
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Regional bank shares tumbled Thursday after two lenders disclosed issues with borrowers, stoking nerves about the health of the credit market — and the potential for negative spillovers into the stock market and broader economy.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There has been optimism at times with this Cowboys team powered by the top offense in the NFL, but the defense continues to falter at the worst moments at crucial points in close games.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Oct. 2025
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In a topsy-turvy season where AFC faves Kansas City and Baltimore have faltered, and Jacksonville and Indianapolis have been major surprises, people still want to discount Tomlin and the Black and Gold.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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Dividend cuts ‘would send shivers through Wall Street’ Clark Williams-Derry, energy finance analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a non-profit organization, said trimming the share buybacks is likely Big Oil’s easiest option.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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Grab this sweatsuit and kiss mid-flight shivers goodbye.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But nothing got the celebrities in a tizzy like Jonathan Anderson’s debut at Dior.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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But over the weekend, some folks who apparently just discovered the band, allegedly got into a tizzy over one aspect of GWAR’s current show — a mock beheading of Tesla CEO and former DOGE boss Elon Musk.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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