1
as in weaseling
to avoid giving a definite answer or position
politicians who try to pussyfoot around hot-button issues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in lurking
to move about in a sly or secret manner
pussyfooting through the hallways in the middle of the night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pussyfooting
Verb
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Sunderland are lurking and, perhaps for the first time under Howe’s management, Newcastle are in deficit, needing a response (yet again) after a chastening night in Europe.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026 -
Wacky weather may still be lurking, but the ice on Indianapolis' concert calendar is starting to thaw.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nothing kills momentum faster than waffling on a big decision.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Patricia Serio is waffling between Saint Xavier and Judson University to finish her degree.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These businesses offer a way to entertain kids while sneaking in a little education.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
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But beyond sneaking small bombs past Israel’s air defenses, Iran’s use of cluster munitions may also be intended to try to reduce Israel’s stock of missile interceptors, potentially forcing it to fire dozens of them to eliminate the threat of a single missile.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Similarly rewarding was slipping back into familiar older characters.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
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In it, Aaron is down to his underwear and is slipping into his clothes.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Steps on the other side lead down to a casual dining area and a family/media room with sliding glass doors spilling outside.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
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On our hike, Jessie Krebs scolds her boots for sliding on a slick, house-size boulder.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Pussyfooting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pussyfooting. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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