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
-
Some affirm its position; some hesitate to award it the stamp.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025 -
With so many convenient destinations to choose from, there really is no reason to hesitate to put a Northern Lights trip on your calendar.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In recent years, some Wyandotte residents have tried to get the government to delay or cancel its tax sales, which usually happen twice a year, to prevent people who have struggled to pay sky-rocketing property tax bills from losing their family homes.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The continued closure of the Rafah crossing is preventing delivery of equipment needed to find dead hostages and will therefore delay recovery efforts, Hamas said, according to Reuters.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Del Toro’s explanation for this paradox revealed to Isaac that Victor Frankenstein operates without doubt or hesitation—until his catastrophic moment of reckoning.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Tariffs appear to have stabilized, and while brands remain aware of global uncertainties, there’s a clear shift toward action, not hesitation.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The industry also plans to mix hydrogen into its existing gas utility pipeline network, but those efforts have faltered amid local opposition.—
NPR,
NPR,
13 Oct. 2025
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There has been optimism at times with this Cowboys team powered by the top offense in the NFL, but the defense continues to falter at the worst moments at crucial points in close games.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Chad Molter, executive director of Boulder’s Harvest of Hope Pantry, is also worried about how the lingering government shutdown could surge demand.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
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After seeing consistent playing time following his February 2024 trade from Memphis and hitting a clutch 3-pointer to help Boston win Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas, Tillman tumbled down the depth chart in 2024-25, the result of poor shooting and lingering knee issues.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His grandfather, Leroy Hanlon, frustrated by this hesitancy, snatches the instrument out of Mike’s hand and carries out the deed himself.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Oct. 2025
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That hesitancy is echoed by some analysts, who said the concept currently lacked clarity.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Swift said that the album, which has received several glowing reviews as well as numerous ambivalent critiques, has been embraced by the Swiftie fandom.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
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Like the operas Li recalled, this moment is characterized by a kind of emotional extravagance that does not permit the ambivalent second thought.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One poked his head into the live shot and later stuck his hand into the frame, seemingly seeking a fist bump from the reporter.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Kean himself gets a tattoo hand-poked into his skin and applies medieval salves to his wounds.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 2025.
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