1
as in to delay
to move or act slowly
don't dillydally on the way to the store
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
restaurant employees who, during the slow periods, would rather be doing something instead of just dillydallying
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dillydally
There was the tapping of the top of the bat to his toes, scribbling in the dirt, adjusting his gloves and swiping his shoulder, among other displays of dillydallying.
—
Anna Brand, CNN, 30 Mar. 2023
Bathroom breaks and other excuses for dillydallying give your heart rate a chance to return to normal.
—Elizabeth Narins, Cosmopolitan, 22 May 2015
Anna Brand, CNN, 30 Mar. 2023
Bathroom breaks and other excuses for dillydallying give your heart rate a chance to return to normal.
—Elizabeth Narins, Cosmopolitan, 22 May 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dillydally
Verb
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Broken cross-department collaboration exacerbates inefficiencies, delaying decision-making and execution.—
Joao Mendes-Roter,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Still, some who have been focused on TCE were surprised that the Trump administration was delaying and reconsidering the recent ban.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The discoloration may linger after the fungus has been removed.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
23 Mar. 2025
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The palate is intensely flavored with citrus fruits and a stone-fruit character, balanced by a crisp acidity and a dry, lingering finish.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Now is not the time to dawdle, as certain entries on the list might still sell out by week’s end.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
6 Feb. 2025
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Instead, Spurs dawdled during negotiations and, in the end, Slot stayed with the Dutch club for another season before joining Liverpool.—
Oli Gamp,
The Athletic,
22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Mary Fowler momentarily looks down and holds up a very neat yellow square of knitting to the camera, two wooden needles poking out either side.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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During the incident, Konig also allegedly attempted to poke the woman with two syringes, Hawaii News Now reported, citing law enforcement sources.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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For more on Nintendo Switch 2, check out our Switch 2 game wishlist and learn why we’ll be bummed if Switch 2 lacks these features.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
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Plenty more will simply be bummed their predictions didn’t pan out.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Wright crawled out of the driver’s side door of the vehicle, Chargualaf said.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
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But, somehow, life finds a way: The seafloor was crawling with critters of all shapes and sizes, from centuries-old sponges and cup corals to octopuses, snails, worms, sea spiders, icefish and even a rare giant phantom jellyfish.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Cleveland-Cliffs — The steel producer declined 1.2% after a report from the Minnesota Star Tribune said Cleveland-Cliffs would temporarily idle two factories, resulting in hundreds of job cuts.—
Hakyung Kim,
CNBC,
21 Mar. 2025
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In court papers, top CFPB officials have said the agency remains committed to meeting its obligations under the law, rejecting arguments that by idling the majority of the agency's staff and canceling the bulk of its contracts, the Trump administration is violating the law.—
Douglas Gillison and Daniel Wiessner,
USA TODAY,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and dragging hundreds more back to Gaza as hostages.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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The man was convicted of dragging the girl into an alley on Glenwood Road near E. 38th St. in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and attacking her, cops said.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dillydally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dillydally. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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