1
as in to hesitate
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to delay
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
the construction project was once again delayed by the bureaucratic shilly-shally of regulatory agencies
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as in shilly-shallying
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shally
Verb
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Understanding why companies hesitate, and knowing how to work around it, gives you an edge.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025 -
Tickets are going fast for this panel, so don’t hesitate to secure your spot.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The execution was delayed from its anticipated time of 6 p.m. ET as the United States Supreme Court considered Hutchinson's final appeals.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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The construction schedule for Brooklyn is already roughly three years beyond that deadline and the timelines for the completion of the others are further delayed.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
Noun
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After years of hesitation, the national security space community is finally boarding the commercial space train, one that many of us have been pushing for since the early 2000’s.—
Charles Beames,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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This time around, there’s no hesitation for Larsson.—
Tiana DeNicola,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Musk’s comments about his time allotment come just hours after a group of eight Democratic state treasurers wrote to the chair of Tesla’s board about the company’s faltering performance.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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There were days their hitters faltered, their starters struggled, their relievers were unreliable.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Managers don’t always appreciate lingering legacies.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Private patios are planted with succulents and shaded by native trees, while the center of the property is anchored by a sunken dipping pool and communal fire pit perfect for lingering evenings and slow conversations.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Despite the air of hesitancy partially clouding the results, the project strikes a hopeful chord for wildlife conservation.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
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At least one legislator expressed hesitancy during a Senate committee vote Wednesday about the legislation’s expansive footprint.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Steel’s children had been intrigued by the song’s name, but seemed ambivalent about its lyrics, which mostly concern partying.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
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According to a 2022 Gallup Poll, 54% of Gen-Z employees, slightly higher than any other generation, are ambivalent or not engaged at work.—
Lynn Smith,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The actor also poked fun at his name in a pre-show interview with Pat’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, after thanking her for saying it correctly.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
1 May 2025
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Pickard poked fun at himself late in the regular season for doing a double-pad stack in 2025.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shally. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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