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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shally
Verb
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Marsch didn’t hesitate to call on the 21-year-old to replace Davies in March.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
21 May 2025 -
Don’t hesitate to make the most of this energy by planning a fun night out with friends or a romantic evening with your crush.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
20 May 2025
Verb
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Early morning flights are typically the least likely to be canceled or delayed, and taking nonstop flights whenever possible reduces your chances of an issue during your journey.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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The board also leaves out other considerations that people have for delaying or not having children: the environmental crisis, for one example.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
Noun
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That’s where the Oracle of Omaha’s other main hesitation with real estate factors in: Buying property is often a hassle.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
-
Lionel says yes, and before more than a few moments go by the two have tumbled into bed, without fear or hesitation.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
21 May 2025
Verb
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With federal support faltering, your role has never been more critical.—
Randy Colman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2025
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The effort comes as progress on crypto legislation has faltered.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
14 May 2025
Verb
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The pitch lingered in the air before diving under Jackson Merrill’s whiffing bat for an inning-ending strikeout.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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The spike in rice prices reflects the lingering effects of poor harvests last year, with domestic rice consumption being overwhelmingly supported by local production rather than imports, said HSBC’s chief Asia economist Frederic Neumann.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
Noun
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But a broader cultural hesitancy about the technology’s implications meant that, once OpenAI made its breakthrough, Altman—its C.E.O.—came to be seen not only as a fiduciary steward but also as an ethical one.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
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Many of their star performers were overworked, in part due to poor feedback loops with leadership, lack of strong team communication and an overall hesitancy to name workload imbalances.—
Woodrie Burich,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps, the uneasily ambivalent final moments of this movie lead us to wonder, because the pastor couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2025
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Adichie’s protagonists are independent and deeply ambivalent, not so much aloof as detached, both from their love interests and from their own desires and aspirations.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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During that same April 5 episode, Weekend Update’s Colin Jost poked fun at the singer in a bit about the economy.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
12 May 2025
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The contest did not last long as Edwards poked Muhammad in the eye 18 seconds into the second round.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
11 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 27 May. 2025.
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