1
as in panic
a state of nervous or irritated concern
Grandma usually gets in a dither if I don't make my weekly call
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2
as in butterflies
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness
we were all in a dither while we waited for the test results
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
we dithered all afternoon over whether to go to the park or to the movies and ended up doing neither
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dither
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023
Don’t know why Cowboys fans are all in a dither about Jerry Jones trading for Deebo Samuel, who wants out of San Francisco.
—Dallas News, 26 Apr. 2022
Ari Shavit, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2024
The regents dithered for months before acting on any of this.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dither 
Noun
Center Theatre Group, in a dither after Michael Ritchie’s lackluster tenure, is undergoing a search for its new leader.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023
Don’t know why Cowboys fans are all in a dither about Jerry Jones trading for Deebo Samuel, who wants out of San Francisco.
—Dallas News, 26 Apr. 2022
Verb
In the first half of 2024, the unity government dissolved, society re-splintered, the military dithered, and Israel’s bond with Washington began to fray.
—Ari Shavit, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2024
The regents dithered for months before acting on any of this.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
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The same thing happened a year earlier, when the initial outset of the pandemic triggered a panic among investors.Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Dec. 2024
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Key Background After the July jobs report briefly sent a panic through Wall Street as unemployment unexpectedly spiked to 4.3%, triggering one recession indicator, concerns about the health of the labor market have abated in recent months.Derek Saul, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Without hesitating, Weil jumped into the water to save his dogs, the video shows.Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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And, in many cases, your competitors may be the ones hesitating, creating significant opportunities for you.Ken Pomella, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The accompanying dispenser easily slices through tape to create clean lines without fuss, and a high volume of positive shopper ratings have earned this tape an impressive 4.3-star rating.Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
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One other final point is that a lot of fuss was made over the female protagonists in Witch from Mercury.Ollie Barder, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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As the defense has faltered against better opponents, the offense has regressed, as well.Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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The rally comes as markets in Asia and Europe faltered on lackluster economic data from China and broader uncertainty about the global economic outlook.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Volunteers were charged around 25 cents per huff, bringing in good profit for those who’d invested in the necessary gas tanks, tubes, and breathing bags.Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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The huffs and hums, produced by two women standing face-to-face and vocalizing from their throats, is believed to be one of the oldest music forms in the world.Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2024
Noun
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In Fred Alley and James Kaplan's eternally popular hit musical, lumberjacks up north enjoy their bachelor camp world until a woman shows up who puts them in a tizzy.Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2024
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Owner Deepak Aggarwal is the same guy behind Berkeley’s East Bay Spice Company, which caused a tizzy among cocktail aficionados for its cutting-edge concoctions.John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2024
Noun
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Forensic investigators at a police lab in Queens will go through the contents of the bag slowly and deliberately, examining not only the contents but the bag itself, which may contain sweat or other evidence connected to the shooter, the official said.Elise Hammond, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
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Stale beer, sweat, and (often) despair linger in the air, but the beers are cheap and the company is largely non-judgmental.BYChris Morris, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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