shilly-shallying 1 of 3

noun

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shilly-shallying

2 of 3

adjective

as in ambivalent

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Dissimilar Words

shilly-shallying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of shilly-shally
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
  1. hesitation
  2. ambivalent
  3. hesitating
  4. delaying
  5. hesitancy
  6. random
  7. faltering
  8. lingering
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
  • But experts have worried that doctors are hesitating to offer treatment without an ironclad diagnosis, which clinicians say can take time and increase risks to the mother.
    — Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Fertilizer is often bought months ahead of planting, so hesitating in the fall can mean less goes on the ground in the spring.
    — Jayash Paudel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hesitating
Verb
  • And more people are entering the system than leaving it, delaying help for newly homeless families.
    — Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Though profits and revenue growth have generally been strong this year, the IPO market has stalled, with Oura and Bamboo Insurance delaying their offerings last month.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of delaying
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
Verb
  • There were early indicators that both programs and public engagement were faltering under the board’s new leadership.
    — E. Andrew Taylor, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The grandees of Gullen have set their hopes on Claire’s bankrolling their faltering community’s recovery.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of faltering
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
  • But even in a crowd of MAGA-hat-toting Republican voters who took a day off school and work to attend a political rally, there was some lingering skepticism about Donalds at the top of the ticket.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lingering
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.

Browse Nearby Words

shilly-shally
shilly-shallying
shimmer
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Cite this Entry

“Shilly-shallying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shilly-shallying. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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