1
as in hesitated
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
I didn't shilly-shally but instead raced to the hospital as soon as I heard the news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delayed
to move or act slowly
with dinner guests due in two hours, there was no time to shilly-shally in front of the TV set
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shallied
Verb
-
Instead, both hesitated, their feet tangled and a charging Healy banged in the loose ball.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
12 June 2026 -
His mother, Rochelle Hinkle, hesitated at the idea of sending her 15-year-old son three hours away to live with a host family, during COVID, no less, but eventually warmed up to the idea.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
That money was delayed in getting to Foxborough amid a congressional funding freeze.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
The team’s charter flight from Mexico to Miami Sunday night was delayed a few hours due to missing documentation.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Had the 747 project faltered, Boeing would likely have gone down with it.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
-
Meanwhile, projects faltered, properties fell into foreclosure, and vulnerable tenants faced displacement and eviction.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
When a father in an England jersey led his young sons toward the concourse, one lingered behind long enough to see Croatia’s Martin Baturina score in the 36th minute, after which the youngster registered his disgust.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
-
That faded almost immediately, though the headache lingered half the day.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
But peace talks have dragged for weeks under a ceasefire that began in April.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
-
And public anger grew after video showed an activist being dragged by a private security guard while demonstrating at the site.—
Zana Cimili,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
When doctors smothered it in ointment, about 45 larvae crawled out.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
-
He was buried alive on a construction site and then poisoned by a venomous rattlesnake that crawled into his coffin and attacked him.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The view was uncommonly broad, and the city skyline poked out of the eastern sky.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
-
Jo Adell poked a tying single through the infield moments later.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shallied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallied. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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