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
-
If a gatekeeper hesitates, breathe and restate your win.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026 -
In the finale, Nicky hesitates at the altar, leading Rachel to question their relationship.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Developers often struggle to hire workers, which delays home construction and further increases prices.—
Maxwell Harden,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Avoiding the conversation only delays the inevitable.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
If a birth cohort hits what normally would be their high-earning years just as an economy booms, as the baby boomers did, their lifetime earnings will be far higher than a cohort reaching those ages just as the economy falters or goes into severe recession.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
26 Apr. 2026
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But even if Ohtani falters against the Giants, who rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored per game, that will not be a death knell to his candidacy.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The night footage is especially beautiful and memorable, and the careful handling of light shapes an aesthetic that lingers well beyond the final frame.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
-
Spiking energy costs as the war in the Middle East lingers.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Think about how often your toddler crawls near the dog bed or your kids toss pet toys around the living room.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The performance itself grows increasingly grating as the runtime drags on, particularly when Johnny’s scene partners overpower him by connecting deeper and doing less.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
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The same logic should apply to the papering process itself, the document drafting and redlining that drags on long after the business points are ostensibly settled.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Kym is the family fuckup and a guilty party to its biggest tragedy but also constantly pokes the bear as its selfish verbal assassin.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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Instead, the robot simply pokes through it.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shallies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallies. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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