as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
fortunately, during the crisis there was no shilly-shallying on the part of the president
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ambivalent
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hesitating
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
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2
as in delaying
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shallying
Noun
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At the time, there was some hesitation in the industry about partnering with a Chinese drugmaker.—
Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
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However, during the hearing, lobbyists for both the Chiefs and Royals would not commit to staying in Missouri if the plan passed, which could spark hesitation among some senators.—
Adjective
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If the show had portrayed one or both of them as ambivalent about the idea of being a parent — whether in general or in this broken, scary world in particular — then the idea of them staying would have made more emotional sense.—
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In one of several photos released by the zoo on Friday, the rest of the herd appears ambivalent to Annie’s growing celebrity.—
Noun
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The gaming industry has been hit hard in recent years with layoffs, delayed funding and investor hesitancy.—
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That’s due to several factors, such as challenges related to cost and access and hesitancy among some cardiologists and primary care physicians.—
Verb
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Magical door wash to welcome in the new To create your magic door wash, start with a glass mason jar and cleanse the space above it by ringing a bell in a clockwise motion to clear any lingering energy.—
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Don't jump to conclusions about a compromise state budget plan with cuts, taxes and a lingering bit of uncertainty.—
Noun
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Storms in the area put the search on pause between 1:30 and 6 a.m. May 26, then crews resumed until Smith was found the next day, officials said.—
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What To Know Secretary of State Marco Rubio had signed and sent a diplomatic cable on Tuesday ordering the pause to student visa interviews and outlining a shift in vetting procedures.—
Adjective
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The bill also calls for the State Department of Education to conduct random surprise visits at private special education institutions.—
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Watch any random movie in the Cannes selection and you’re bound to see a parade of opening credits signaling production resources from across Europe, including many national film funds.—
Verb
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On Wednesday, March 19, the couple filmed an Instagram Reel poking fun at their recent red carpet interview with Extra at the grand re-opening of Planet Hollywood in NYC on Tuesday, March 11.—
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Roots Growing Out Drainage Holes Roots poking out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot is a sure sign your plant needs a bigger pot.—
Noun
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But that is where the similarities end, and where the hesitance to believe the Knicks had a chance at the reigning champs seeps in deep.—
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This hesitance only reinforces the false narrative that race is a divisive topic rather than an integral part of understanding American society.—
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Cite this Entry
“Shilly-shallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallying. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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