DALLY Synonyms: 190 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'dally' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of dally are dawdle , delay , lag , loiter , and procrastinate . While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary. // stop dallying and get to work

Q: When would 'delay' be a good substitute for 'dally'?

While in some cases nearly identical to dally , delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure). // we cannot delay any longer

Q: Where would 'lag' be a reasonable alternative to 'dally'?

Although the words lag and dally have much in common, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others. // lagging behind in technology

Q: How do 'loiter' and 'dawdle' relate to one another, in the sense of 'dally'?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time. // loitered at several store windows // children dawdling on their way home from school

Q: When can 'procrastinate' be used instead of 'dally'?

While the synonyms procrastinate and dally are close in meaning, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. // procrastinates about making decisions

dally

verb

ˈda-lē

Definition of dally next

as in to play

to engage in activity for amusement he spent his college years dallying, seemingly determined to acquire as little knowledge as possible

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as in to linger

to move or act slowly don't dally on the way to the interview

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as in to flirt

to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun she spent the summer dallying with a guy renting the neighboring beach house

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as in to lazy

to spend time doing nothing I kept dallying at my desk until I couldn't put off doing my work any longer

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How is the word dally different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of dally are dawdle, delay, lag, loiter, and procrastinate. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When would delay be a good substitute for dally?

While in some cases nearly identical to dally, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

Where would lag be a reasonable alternative to dally?

Although the words lag and dally have much in common, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of dally?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows

children dawdling on their way home from school

When can procrastinate be used instead of dally?

While the synonyms procrastinate and dally are close in meaning, procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of dally And then there’s her day job, as a receptionist at her art-school alma mater, to pay her landlord, who dallies on fixing the heater. —

Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 June 2023 Another factor in the release undating was Bad Bunny’s touring schedule, which had firmed up while the movie was dallying. —

Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2023 After wrapping up some unfinished business in the aforementioned Morocco (for which the deserts of Jordan this time stand in), Wick makes his way to Japan and Germany before dallying to Paris for the denouement. —

Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Mar. 2023 But politicians dallied, and the numbers ballooned. —

Diana Durán, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for dally

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dally

Verb

One of the greatest of all time to play the position, one of the greatest players of all time.

— Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic, 28 Jan. 2025
Fox played against the New York Knicks on Saturday after being considered questionable due to a right thumb sprain.

— Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 27 Jan. 2025