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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
This dithering isn’t helping anyone.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
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
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
This dithering isn’t helping anyone.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
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While this may seem obvious, logic often falls apart during moments of panic.—
Amy Shoenthal,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
The scary moment was met by immense panic among passengers.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
27 July 2025
Verb
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Many third-party managers hesitate to adopt centralized models, citing concerns about disruption or owner pushback.—
Tyler Christiansen,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
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Social media users didn't hesitate to share their thoughts on the eBay sale.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
17 July 2025
Noun
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No mess, no fuss At first glance, a belt drive and internal gear hub seem the perfect match for a gravel bike.—
Eric Bangeman,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
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The promise was simple: split payments, no interest, no fuss.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
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After Democrats took control of the Senate in 2021 with President Joe Biden in the White House, efforts to address the cap again faltered, despite efforts by Pritzker and other Democratic governors who wrote Biden a letter that spring calling for it to be eliminated.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
28 July 2025
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Trump's ratings on some of the most significant issues facing the country also faltered, according to Gallup pollsters.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
27 July 2025
Noun
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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
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The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Before Sonic joined the game, McDonald’s sent fans into a tizzy after announcing that their beloved Snack Wraps would be back in action this summer.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
8 July 2025
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His victory has sent some major investors, New York business leaders and conservative news commentators into a tizzy over the now-very-real possibility that Mamdani, a three-term state assemblyman, will be the mayor of America's largest city.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Remember it with every drop of sweat, every rep, every cramped calf and every aching stride.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 July 2025
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Between the wear-everywhere look of jeans and the cloudlike comfort of sweats, these pants are the ultimate warm-weather travel companion—and honestly, a year-round staple.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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