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 planner hesitates or hedges on this question, consider that a red flag.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026 -
When pressed on what a new economic system for the age of AGI might look like, Hunter-Torricke hesitates.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The investment committee approved the change on Tuesday, which also delays Maersk’s job development investment grant.—
Brian Gordon,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
-
What happens if the city delays?—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Alice never falters in her suspicions.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
-
But when their friendship falters, Minnie is forced to navigate her own identity.—
Teresa Xie,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If winter lingers, be ready to delay your rose planting.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
-
For the parents watching nearby, the larger story lingers.—
Peter Folan,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the Bay Area slowly — some might say glacially — crawls into spring, there’s nothing better than sipping a hot cup of tea or coffee to warm yourself up.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
As with aftermarket switchable sway bar systems, drivers can lock the sway bars in place for better handling and stability at speed and unlock them completely for maximum articulation during bumpy rock crawls.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rio’s staunch griminess, dreaming of whacking his brother and wanting to cut his nephew’s tongue for snitching, drags Fxce out into the open sea.—
Matthew Ritchie,
Pitchfork,
23 Feb. 2026
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Even the managers can recognize when a game drags.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti hired the FTI Consulting Firm, which pokes holes in virtually all of Campbell’s assumptions, including the idea that college sports could replicate NBA and NFL revenues by pooling their games.—
Eddie Pells,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
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The paper pokes holes in virtually all of Campbell’s assumptions, including the idea that college sports could replicate NBA and NFL revenues by pooling their games.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 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 3 Mar. 2026.
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