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
Relevance
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
Examples Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shally
Verb
-
Patients often hesitate to share feedback openly in these areas, fearing judgment or a loss of privacy.—
Lauren Parr,
Forbes,
9 Jan. 2025 -
Yes, there are lots of uses for buttermilk, don't hesitate.—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appétit,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay its implementation of the upcoming law and reportedly met with TikTok’s chief executive officer Shou Chew last month.—
Denni Hu,
WWD,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Extreme weather across the country delayed and changed the flight path of wild birds, the main carriers of the virus.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
For example, a financial services organization rolling out a new product and working to generate sales using only CRM data might overlook early signs of buyer hesitation.—
Eilon Reshef,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
-
The common signs of vision loss include bumping into objects, difficulty finding food or toys, hesitation with jumping, anxiety, clinginess, or even aggression due to vulnerability.—
Kevin Lynn,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Her breaking point came during a task that repeatedly pulled the interlocked participants under frigid water: The soggy Sutter faltered when running from the beach with a 30-pound rucksack.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Over the course of the war, ceasefire negotiations have faltered at the eleventh hour on several occasions.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Warren went first, while Poles lingered longer for a private moment with his quarterback.—
Adam Jahns,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
-
The dry down reveals creamy tonka bean and sandalwood base notes, grounding the composition with a soft, cashmere-like warmth that lingers beautifully.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Participant hesitancy creates a real disadvantage when trying to communicate openly, develop an understanding of a person or situation, or negotiate effectively.—
Jason Foodman,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The timing of their pressing was off because of their hesitancy to press high.—
Charlotte Harpur,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
But in a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt the next day, Trump was more ambivalent.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Robeson, who was unavailable for the Broadway premiere but played Joe onstage and onscreen for nearly a decade afterward, had a relationship with the song that was ambivalent at best.—
Joshua Barone,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In a signature segment, the Joke Wall, performers in mod regalia poked their heads out of holes in a set, like cuckoos emerging from a clock, and spouted one-liners.—
Susan Morrison,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
-
Some of his fellow officers poked fun at him and his blue vest.—
Alfredo Sosa,
The Christian Science Monitor,
13 Jan. 2025
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.
Thesaurus Entries Near shilly-shally
Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shally. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share