dillydallying 1 of 2

adjective

as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the dillydallying congress hadn't passed any legislation, and the term was almost over

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dillydallying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of dillydally
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly don't dillydally on the way to the store

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dawdling
to spend time doing nothing restaurant employees who, during the slow periods, would rather be doing something instead of just dillydallying

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dillydallying
  1. leisurely
  2. delaying
  3. dawdling
  4. slow
  5. lingering
  6. idling
  7. dragging
  8. lounging
Adjective
  • Take in its beauty at a leisurely pace atop a paddleboard or in a kayak borrowed from Aloha Paddle Lake Norman, which offers rentals and beginner-friendly lessons.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
  • The relaxed and roomy silhouette is perfect for keeping you comfortable on long strolls and during leisurely lunches, and pairs beautifully with everything from flip flops to comfy loafers or heeled sandals.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Definition of leisurely
Verb
  • While delaying benefits is typically optimal, a hypothetical 22% cut by 2033 significantly shifts optimal claiming ages for many single individuals, potentially encouraging earlier filing, but often not for married couples.
    — Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Some workers were granted exemptions, and a handful of departments were delaying implementation of the governor’s mandate.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of delaying
Verb
  • Indeed, Ederson has moments where he can be caught dawdling with the ball, hoping for an opening that doesn’t always arrive.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 June 2026
  • Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
Definition of dawdling
Adjective
  • There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of slow
Verb
  • This season, our editors are savoring the activities that take us back to some of our favorite childhood days—jumping off docks, sliding down twisty pool slides, and lingering outside long into the evening.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Any strange or lingering foot symptoms, though, could be a sign of a bigger health condition.
    — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 3 July 2026
Definition of lingering
Verb
  • The nearly 3,000-foot-long train was patiently idling beside the platform at East Perth Terminal, where a spread of scones, strawberry jam, clotted cream, and Bollinger champagne welcomed eager travelers.
    — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • At the same time, the sounds of idling diesel work truck engines have replaced that of dozens of fire trucks that had been stationed there for days.
    — Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of idling
Verb
  • Compounding concerns, California officials say the Department of Transportation is dragging its feet.
    — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
  • One small habit that has helped me tremendously is dragging important emails directly into my calendar.
    — Michel Koopman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of dragging
Verb
  • On property, guests can enjoy lounging on Adirondack chairs around the firepits, playing games of cornhole or backgammon, or simply enjoying the inn's common spaces and reading nooks.
    — Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
  • Many people stayed outside in the street, lounging under the shade of trees because the city had shut down.
    — NASSER KARIMI, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026
Definition of lounging
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.

Browse Nearby Words

dillydally
dillydallying
dilute
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Cite this Entry

“Dillydallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydallying. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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