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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shilly-shallying
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shally
Verb
-
But for the most part, Knight hesitated to kill his darlings.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026 -
Hawke doesn’t hesitate to cite Taylor Swift as an influence.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under the modification, the General Dynamics subsidiary will aim to address supplier network bottlenecks that have delayed the delivery of the first submarine in the next-generation 12-vessel fleet of nuclear submarines.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
-
This delayed his feeding and cost us many peanuts.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While that hesitation is healthy (generally, reimagining your routine as often as social media encourages isn’t always best), turns out there is actual merit to tweaking your products along with the evolving seasons.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
-
His short responses feel distant, and his hesitation comes across as disinterest.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When the Avs faltered before the Olympic break, the Stars reeled them back in.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The greenback has also exhibited defensive characteristics, while other traditional safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese yen have faltered.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Continue on to The Shed Distillery, where Drumshanbo gin is distilled among forest-edge botanicals; the tasting room and café are worth lingering in.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
For many in South Florida, the possibility of compensation remains uncertain — with major questions lingering over eligibility, funding, and whether any agreement would require significant political concessions.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since the conflict in Iran began, travel agents have reported some hesitancy among travelers to purchase upcoming cruises.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Lindsay pointed out that that hesitancy, combined with the ongoing controversy, may lead viewers to lose trust in the franchise as a whole.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For readers who are ambivalent, prospective, prickly, curious, on the fence, or just plain interested in what’s possible.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
But DuBois has written a usefully ambivalent book, one that looks for a way to reconcile younger writers’ criticisms of Stanton with her own loyalty to the early women’s-rights activists.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Petzold dragged his chair a little closer to listen.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
O’Brien’s words echoed the taunts that the two had thrown back and forth at each other in an actual Senate hearing that almost ended in a knockdown, drag-out fight.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shally. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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