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
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
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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While competitors hesitated, Tesla built data depth and operational learning that now underpin its long-term advantage.—
Matthew C. Meade,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Crew members hesitated, unsure how to navigate the transition.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pass protection faltered, the run game stalled and Love couldn’t find a rhythm through the air as Green Bay welcomed Chicago back into the game and the Bears once again took advantage to end their archrival’s season in stunning fashion.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Traffic in restaurants faltered, as budget-conscious customers ate out less often and spent less.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dithered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dithered. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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