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
Relevance
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
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
In 2025, my hope for the world is that governments and institutions will finally stop dithering and focus on solutions that deliver the best returns.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
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
This dithering isn’t helping anyone.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
In 2025, my hope for the world is that governments and institutions will finally stop dithering and focus on solutions that deliver the best returns.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
-
Yet rather than panic, creators have been quick to adapt.—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
Yet the faces and the fashions, not to mention the paranoia and the panic, feel very Seventies.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
If the emotional impact of hair loss feels overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for support.—
Health,
Health,
26 June 2025
-
However, small businesses hesitate to seize the opportunity due to factors like limited finances, technical deficits, and lack of expertise.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
The deep pockets add both style and practicality—great for a mom to put her card and keys in without the fuss of a purse.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
16 June 2025
-
Through all that high entertainment, Spaun went out in the morning with hardly a fuss and nary a bogey.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
And then, if the team falters, dumping before the Aug. 31 deadline for players to be eligible for postseason rosters?—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
Even high-performing teams can falter under the burden of shifting priorities and misaligned goals.—
Rahul Karan Sharma,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Resulting shortages sent automakers worldwide into a tizzy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 June 2025
-
The announcement comes just a couple of days after Carey first teased the track, sending Lambs into a tizzy with the prospect of the star’s first proper new music in years.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Sure, a high-intensity sweat session can make your heart pump harder, your breath quicken, and may even cause a burning-like feeling in your lungs and chest.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
23 June 2025
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By the end of the night, the whole team was dripping in sweat and covered in blisters, their pantyhose ripped from their high kicks.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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