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
PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
Ao Tanaka should not have dithered and conceded the second set-piece so late into injury time, while the backline should have been more alert to the second ball.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 Sep. 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
Either technology can show an assortment of issues like banding and dithering patterns in fills, which vary from printer to printer and can even vary from one quality setting to another with the same printer.
—PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
Ao Tanaka should not have dithered and conceded the second set-piece so late into injury time, while the backline should have been more alert to the second ball.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
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Phrases such as new rules or urgent account issues are designed to trigger panic before logic has a chance to catch up.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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The work ultimately was not about murder or church burning or Satanic panic, but about complicity, reflecting Ruch’s role as the accomplice back onto the viewer.—
Rachel Wetzler,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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Older workers face forced plateaus as organizations hesitate to invest in workers over 50, assuming their time is limited, minds are dulling, and retirement is imminent.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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What’s behind all the fuss, of almost 180k glowing reviews on Amazon?—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
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There was never much fuss about this, largely because Carrick was widely considered boring.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And there have been nerves about AI eating into software’s market share for a while.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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On March 9, Avry Jo, who is now 4, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a highly aggressive cancer of the nerves that typically occurs within the first few years of life.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Tech giants flourish or falter based on their decisions to overhaul themselves, often leaving tens of thousands of workers to pay the price.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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As the Bucks falter in the midst of this Antetokounmpo mess, Crowder took to social media to again reflect on the decision of the Bucks to dismiss Adrian Griffin in favor of Rivers midway through the 2023-24 season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
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Secondary recovery includes waterflooding or gas injection which includes huff-and-puff mode.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Shake off the winter shivers, Boise.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Jan. 2026
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Every year, homes are affected as the early shivers give way to the bitter cold of January and February.—
Connie Etemadi,
Freep.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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With a dust and waterproof rating of IP57, the earbuds can also shrug off moisture and sweat, whether jogging in the rain or enduring a punishing workout.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Geoff Scott, former head of medicine and sports science at Tottenham Hotspur, told The Athletic’s Sarah Shephard that, in hot conditions, players lose water through sweat, as well as electrolytes, and that the depletion of the likes of sodium, chloride and potassium can be significant.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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