Thesaurus results for PUSSYFOOTING

pussyfooting

verb

present participle of pussyfoot

as in weaseling

to avoid giving a definite answer or position politicians who try to pussyfoot around hot-button issues

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in lurking

to move about in a sly or secret manner pussyfooting through the hallways in the middle of the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pussyfooting Fragments of story are fed to us, but there’s no forward thrust, just a lot of pussyfooting around. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 Alright Genesis, the time for pussyfooting is over. — New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pussyfooting

Verb

The tournament’s special status — its unwillingness to place any person above the sport — is part of why Williams wanted to play singles, not just doubles with her sister Venus, after waffling on the decision.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Nothing kills momentum faster than waffling on a big decision.

— Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of waffling

Verb

Swift, though, is adept at sneaking into places — including GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — undetected.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Truelove was apprehended after sneaking into Rockefeller Center’s Studio 1A to search for 71-year-old Roker.

— Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026

Definition of sneaking

Verb

When the device first appeared on the rumor mill, it was tipped for a potential 2025 arrival, before slipping to spring 2026.

— Paul Lamkin, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Mercado opened the scoring in the 17th minute, slipping behind the Wave's back line before meeting Ainsley McCammon’s cross with a header for her third goal in three matches.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 July 2026

Definition of slipping

Verb

Originally housing offices, its heyday in Detroit’s industrial age was brief, sliding into decline in the 1960s and ultimately going vacant.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
In the meantime, relatively strong iPhone and Mac sales in this quarter didn’t stop Apple’s stock value from sliding around eight percent in after-hours trading.

— Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026

Definition of sliding

Browse Nearby Words

pussyfooted

pussyfooting

pussyfoots

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“Pussyfooting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pussyfooting. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of pussyfooting

verb

Example Sentences

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