SHILLY-SHALLY Synonyms: 253 Similar and Opposite Words

shilly-shally 1 of 3

verb

Definition of shilly-shally

as in to hesitate

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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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to delay

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

shilly-shally

2 of 3

a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action the construction project was once again delayed by the bureaucratic shilly-shally of regulatory agencies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shilly-shally

3 of 3

adjective

as in shilly-shallying

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for shilly-shally

Verb

Much of the film plays out in close-up as Alex watches, plays, thinks, hesitates.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
But the clearest lesson from Iowa is that states that engage early and set smart terms come out ahead, while those that hesitate watch the investment head elsewhere.

— Jeff Danielson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

Walter Mischel, a psychologist who taught at Stanford and Columbia, conducted some of the most famous studies on delaying gratification in the late 1960s and 1970s.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Parents who addressed the board on Thursday urged the district to delay the vote and take more time to review logistics.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of delay

Noun

The recording includes hesitations and human interventions rather than presenting only the successful portions of the operation.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Others who express hesitation or opposition to bans often cite the risk of sending people who are dependent on 7-OH into withdrawal, and potentially leading them to other, more dangerous substances.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of hesitation

Adjective

With Spider-Noir, the actor figures this ambivalence toward his public persona into Reilly’s ambivalent battle with the Spider inside him.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
In particular, respondents were ambivalent about whether data centers should be charged higher electricity rates than other customers.

— Fengxiu Zhang, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of ambivalent

Verb

Current Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has faced intense scrutiny as the state’s insurance market has faltered and has pushed through a series of changes in recent years to try and stabilize it.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Lucy’s constant sense of invention sometimes falters under the album’s new, megawatt spotlight, lacking the enticing mystery that gives their best music its power.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of falter

Verb

With their feelings for each other blossoming, the two go out for dinner, which is full of Rushville patrons with lingering hatred for Hal.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
In the scene, Simon’s family speaks Kreyòl — although to varying degrees of proficiency — and the camera lingers on the Haitian feast presented on the table.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of linger

Noun

The service Mostly at ease with itself, and therefore the guests, and any hesitancy will be ironed out within a few weeks of opening.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
There’s pushback, or almost like a hesitancy, rooted in the trauma of slavery.

— David Katz, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of hesitancy

Adjective

Instead of projecting random stars, the Pococo Galaxy Projector uses projection discs to fill the room with gorgeous, sharp images of planets, galaxies and much more.

— Chris McMullen, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
After posting a picture on a random rock in the Turkish highlands on Instagram, Salah has transformed the spot into a tourist attraction, with droves of fans making the pilgrimage.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of random

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.

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“Shilly-shally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shally. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shilly-shally

verb

noun

adjective

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