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shilly-shallying 1 of 3

noun

as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action fortunately, during the crisis there was no shilly-shallying on the part of the president

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shilly-shallying

2 of 3

adjective

as in ambivalent

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Dissimilar Words

shilly-shallying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of shilly-shally
1
as in hesitating
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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2
as in delaying
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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shallying
  1. hesitation
  2. ambivalent
  3. hesitating
  4. delaying
  5. hesitancy
  6. random
  7. faltering
  8. lingering
Noun
  • As a kid, three chickens might be divided among the children; hesitation meant going hungry.
    — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While Presley made appearances on The Milton Berle Show and The Steve Allen Show, among many others, Sullivan had hesitations about platforming the provocative singer, whose dance moves thrilled some audiences while offending others.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitation
Adjective
  • The ensemble of actors is convincing in its naturalness, with the characterizations remaining consistently precise and ambivalent.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The powwow was more ambivalent than most Fourth of July celebrations.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambivalent
Verb
  • But experts have worried that doctors are hesitating to offer treatment without an ironclad diagnosis, which clinicians say can take time and increase risks to the mother.
    — Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Fertilizer is often bought months ahead of planting, so hesitating in the fall can mean less goes on the ground in the spring.
    — Jayash Paudel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hesitating
Verb
  • Kim Anding, the Lighthouse’s former controller, told the Star-Telegram that delaying roof repairs amounted to negligence.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Thirty percent also reported delaying or forgoing medical care.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of delaying
Noun
  • The service Mostly at ease with itself, and therefore the guests, and any hesitancy will be ironed out within a few weeks of opening.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • There’s pushback, or almost like a hesitancy, rooted in the trauma of slavery.
    — David Katz, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitancy
Adjective
  • Italy imposed the border controls -- which amounted to random police checks at airports and seaports for passengers arriving from Spain -- by claiming a threat to its internal security.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Much like Arya killing the Night King, Bran Stark becoming king of Westeros remains a random and highly controversial choice nearly a decade since the ending of Game of Thrones.
    — Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of random
Verb
  • Late last year, Kushner was called on to help with the faltering talks to end the war in Ukraine.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • China will inject $45 billion into its largest banks and insurers, its biggest recapitalization push in decades as Beijing looks to boost the country’s faltering economy.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of faltering
Verb
  • But now there’s the lingering unknown amid a fight that can feel endless.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The film’s cast is mostly made up of tribal non-actors, but Anghlong Konyak is its captivating center, as a man whose stubbornness against change sits alongside a lingering grief over his fading way of life.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of lingering
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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shilly-shally
shilly-shallying
shimmer
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Cite this Entry

“Shilly-shallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallying. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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