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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dither
David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024
And as the bodies pile up in the streets, the U.N. dithers with resolutions.
—Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2023
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Nov. 2024
Charles is dithering along this week, and Anjou is still under house arrest.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dither 
Noun
Democrats are raising alarms that Vladimir Putin could advance on Kyiv while Congress dithers.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024
And as the bodies pile up in the streets, the U.N. dithers with resolutions.
—Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2023
Verb
Puerto Rico’s fate remains in the hands of Congress, which has dithered over the question of statehood for far too long.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Nov. 2024
Charles is dithering along this week, and Anjou is still under house arrest.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
-
By the end of the 90-minute debate, those who had been able to bear sticking around were in a panic.—
Annie Karni,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
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People who are impacted by natural disaster may feel a strong sense of grief, panic, loss, fear and sadness, according to the University of Houston's Department of Psychology.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Such tools can be game-changers for individuals who, for any number of deeply human reasons, hesitate to seek care.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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But in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal , Warren Buffett’s middle child Howard, who will eventually become Berkshire’s nonexecutive chairman, hesitated when asked about Berkshire’s future dividend policy.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The film’s chief distinction is that it was shot entirely on an iPhone, supposedly allowing for greater freedom and spontaneity as the cast and crew were able to shoot in real locations without making much of a fuss.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
-
So, without further fuss, here are my predictions for the main categories for the 97th Academy Awards.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Persistence is key – never falter, never surrender!—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
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The swingman’s stats have also faltered this past month, with his scoring and shooting attempts dropping drastically, which many have attributed to Butler’s uninspired play and seeming lack of motivation.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
28 Jan. 2025
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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The waggish jeer that subverts the Reich Chancellery, designed by Adolf Hitler's chief architect, Albert Speer, must have sent the woman who chastises children for flatulent folly into a tizzy.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes,
12 Jan. 2025
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When photos of Mangione hit social media, users across platforms went into a tizzy.—
Stephan Pechdimaldji,
Newsweek,
13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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By Jennifer Hussein 6 Best Cooling Weighted Blankets for Your Deepest Sleep Yet No sweat, all snooze.—
Meirav Devash,
Allure,
17 Jan. 2025
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Foreman tried to steady himself and go after Ali but stumbled into rapid-fire combinations that spun him around like a drunken ballet dancer — punches with enough impact to throw a spray of his sweat across the ring.—
Mikal Gilmore,
Rolling Stone,
17 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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