1
as in hesitates
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 delays
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-shallies
Verb
-
In the final scene, Lee hesitates for a moment before letting Stella choose.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025 -
If the alliance hesitates, Putin will see weakness and press harder.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Department officials later told her in texts and emails that delays completing the more detailed review of Rochelle’s home were her fault.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
But that was before the arrival of teplizumab, a monoclonal antibody approved in late 2022 that delays the advance of the illness and may even halt it at stage 2 in some people.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And when New York falters, the ripple effects are often national.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
As time passes, pressure increases, communication falters, and every decision carries the weight of potential destruction.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Light snow lingers into the evening.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But beverages that contain THC don’t hit like alcohol, instead causing a sensation that’s more like a slow exhale that lingers just long enough to make the room feel softer, the music warmer and your friends a little funnier.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
What to do if the -- if the original guy crawls out of his grave and wants his job back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Oct. 2025
-
When a storm crawls, rainfall piles up over the same towns for days.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His speech comes as Miami-Dade has become a political pawn as the shutdown drags on.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
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The longer the shutdown drags on, the more likely disruptions become.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The neck of his daughter's guitar pokes out above chunks of concrete.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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Who else pokes holes in this claim?—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shallies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallies. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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