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
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The company had traditionally hesitated to include browns in its product range, but in her first year, after nixing the violet, Waight Keller introduced mocha brown, chocolaty brown, and a winey brown that looked like it had been poured from a decanter.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025 -
Tran said some Republican clubs have even hesitated to ask their universities for support or security for their events.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Next, a series of lawsuits delayed construction.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
9 Sep. 2025
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New natural gas plants are being delayed until the 2030s because of a 50-month backlog for natural gas turbines, and new nuclear power plants can take more than a decade to get off the ground.—
Brian Deese,
Foreign Affairs,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The only categories that The Studio faltered in were the Supporting Actor/Actress in a Comedy categories.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
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Iranian officials have long pledged to restore the lake, but revival efforts have faltered.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One roach crawled on the floor by the prep table.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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Insects crawled through clinical areas, and staff food was stored alongside medical supplies.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The same cautious and concerned mood that overshadowed the start of the Fall/Winter 2026-2027 denim season in April lingered through to its final event.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Sep. 2025
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But inside, the pain of tumbling from first to 19th lingered.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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No movie poked holes in the stereotypical puffy rock-star ego more effectively than Spinal Tap did, and there are legions of fans who have the film almost completely memorized.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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After the cyberstalking ordeal came to an end and started making national news, the Wilsons poked fun at Kendra's fate by dressing up a scarecrow in a prison jumpsuit with a mask of her mugshot over its face, per The Cut.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Homeland Security officials said Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez resisted arrest and dragged an officer in his car.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a man who resisted arrest and dragged the officer during a vehicle stop in a Chicago suburb Friday morning, according to the Department of Homeland Security.—
Priscilla Alvarez,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shallied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallied. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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