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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in delaying
to move or act slowly
don't dillydally on the way to the store
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dillydallying
Adjective
-
Retirement generally signifies the end of full-time work and a transition to a more leisurely life.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Sep. 2025 -
These anemic classics are best enjoyed on a leisurely drive or, more realistically, as a static sculpture on a concours lawn, recalling a more bucolic past.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Most employees would fear losing their chance to be reimbursed, even at the expense of delaying activities linked to their primary job.—
Rohan Joshi,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Pediatrician medical groups argue delaying this birth dose until one month of life would leave the opportunity for babies to be missed if they are born to a mother infected with the virus or from a close contact soon after birth.—
Sony Salzman,
ABC News,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Further, there’s no excuse for Congress to continue dawdling on farm policy.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
By presenting domestic routines with the same creativity and attention to detail as a fashion spread, Smith has shifted the cultural conversation, making intentional, slow living as aspirational as her ensembles themselves.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
21 Sep. 2025
-
In each of our benchmarks, the Swift Go 16's Intel Core Ultra 9 285H—the fastest chipset in Intel’s Core Ultra 2 lineup—led this pack against the laptops with the slower Core Ultra 7.—
Mark Coppock,
PC Magazine,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Still, there was a lingering hesitancy that often got in his way.—
Stephen Galloway,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The performance was impacted by the lingering effects of operational challenges, delivery delays and store closures initiated last year.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The filtration system must be robust enough to perform under stop-and-go driving, prolonged idling and urban pollution while also remaining effective between filter replacements.—
Anan Bishara,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Avoid excessive idling and do not top off when refueling motor vehicles.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Johnny Carson famously kept his politics to himself, while poking fun at whoever happened to be in the White House.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Keep communication open by avoiding poking fun at these practices.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This newly designed, two-story space will celebrate classic California Craftsman design and will be a place for lounging with a good book, relaxing with a glass of wine or admiring the hotel’s Great Hall lobby below.—
Jessica Peralta,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The stretchy pants can be worn lounging, but they can also easily be dressed up for fall festivities with loafers and a blazer or cardigan.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Sep. 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.
Cite this Entry
“Dillydallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydallying. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share