as in hesitated
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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Recent Examples of dithered
Trump dithered, then waited until the last minute to back Paxton.
—
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
As the authorities dithered, people across the city grew restless.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
People shouted over each other as the performers dithered over ideas and raced around the venue.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
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
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
As the authorities dithered, people across the city grew restless.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
People shouted over each other as the performers dithered over ideas and raced around the venue.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dithered
Verb
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But at the last second, Pages pulled up to let Tucker make the catch, and Tucker hesitated before flailing after it.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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Pasco County schools Superintendent John Legg said his team has hesitated to dive too deeply into the amendment’s implications, knowing that the Legislature — particularly the House — has yet to weigh in.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The Broncos faltered in the snow, the Nuggets floundered on the hardwood, and now the Avalanche fail on ice.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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That faith in his ability and focus had faltered at times over the course of this tempestuous and trying campaign, but it has been restored at the last.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dithered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dithered. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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