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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As of last month, that number was about 3 million as employees hesitated to quit at a time when job searches can drag on for months.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026 -
Dean Kim, master baker and founder of OC Baking Company, said that Schwarz was the kind of chef who never hesitated to show up for others.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The trial had been set to start this week but was delayed until next February.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
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The hearings have been delayed by litigation, though, including over who should prosecute the cases going forward.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their arrival comes after the team’s bullpen faltered twice in the late innings over the weekend in Cincinnati’s series sweep.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Red Sox ace faltered early by allowing a couple of doubles, but from there the left-hander settled down and seemed to find his groove.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Charli’s quote has lingered in my head ever since listening to Jessie Ware’s dead-on-arrival sixth record, Superbloom.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Elements of western also lingered.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Steep post-earnings slides for key software names dragged the broader sector lower, as investors weighed artificial intelligence's threat to software companies' business models.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The findings from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show a president who is struggling with unfulfilled promises to tame inflation and testing Americans’ patience with a conflict in the Middle East that has dragged on longer than expected.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The attendant and one of the passengers worked together at prying open the baggage compartment door while the other passenger crawled around the floor, searching in the thick smoke for a cellphone to try to use as a flashlight, according to the statement transcripts.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Two roaches crawled on a rice bin.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Lakers guard reached and poked the ball away.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The couple poked fun at the social media conversation surrounding them in an Instagram Reel.—
Athena Sobhan,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 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 26 Apr. 2026.
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