1
as in hesitates
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 delays
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shallies
Verb
-
If the alliance hesitates, Putin will see weakness and press harder.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025 -
The actress hesitates for only a second before divulging the story.—
Galina Espinoza,
Flow Space,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The wait can leave workers wondering what’s fair and what’s legal when an employer delays payment.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
-
John Malkovich shows up for a tangent that is meant to be expositional, but really only needlessly delays what’s coming.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pure vision uses high-definition cameras to perceive and navigate, but performance falters in poor lighting conditions, and positioning is often lost.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
-
If the offense falters in a game where the defense gives up more long balls, no game is a given.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The state has many fall hotspots that offer colorful autumn landscapes and crisp fall weather, providing the perfect escape from the metro Phoenix heat that typically lingers into October.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The finish opens with a maltiness that quickly shifts to honey, followed by a touch of cinnamon and a sweet oak that lingers for a few seconds before turning much drier.—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Gameplay begins as the player crawls from the wreckage.—
G Kirilloff,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In the footage, the dog hilariously crawls under the blanket, which had slipped down the side of his crate, and ends up pulling it completely off.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The brand’s giant green owl mascot dances badly, makes obscure pop culture references and pokes fun at the company’s push notifications.—
Leeron Walter,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Like his contemporaries, Meyers often pokes fun at the ongoing actions of the president and his administration on Late Night.—
Emlyn Travis Updated,
EW.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Need to know Nvidia probe drags on.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
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Cole Palmer intelligently pulls wide and drags Jones with him, leaving a notable distance between Jones and Gravenberch in the middle.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shallies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallies. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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