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What is another word for shilly-shally?

Need synonyms for shilly-shally? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Verb

To fail to act resolutely or decisively

To move or act at a slow speed

To speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, especially with intent to deceive

To hesitate or be evasive when confronted with a problem

To walk while shuffling or dragging the feet

To take or perform in turns, changing back and forth or in succession

To have doubts or suspicions about

To waste time by doing nothing in particular

Noun

The quality or state of being uncertain or hesitant

Adjective

Hesitant or uncertain in nature or approach

… more ▼

Verb

▲

To fail to act resolutely or decisively

temporize^US

temporise^UK

be unable to make up your mind

keep changing your mind

second-guessing yourself

go from one extreme to the other

be on the horns of a dilemma

stay in the background

be reluctant to come forward

let the grass grow under one's feet

kick the can down the road

put off doing something

balk^US

baulk^UK

harbour reservations about

lack conviction

harbour suspicions about

have hesitations about

be sceptical

feel uncertain

have suspicions about

think something unlikely

fluctuate on

wonder about

express suspicions about

have doubts about

have reservations about

feel uneasy about

be dubious

express reservations about

entertain doubts about

more ❯

“You know, you can shilly-shally around, but if you want your players to win then you have to give them everything you can.”

Verb

▲

To move or act at a slow speed

temporize^US

temporise^UK

put off doing something

use delaying tactics

hold back

stonewall

let the grass grow under one's feet

appear to pass slowly

more ❯

Verb

▲

To speak ambiguously, unclearly or doubtfully, especially with intent to deceive

temporise^UK

temporize^US

play it close to the vest

play your cards close to your chest

balk^US

baulk^UK

dance around an issue

get around

skirt round

worm one's way out of

not give a straight answer to

cop out of

beat around bush

beat about the bush about

more ❯

Verb

▲

To hesitate or be evasive when confronted with a problem

Verb

▲

To walk while shuffling or dragging the feet

plough^UK

plow^US

reconnoiter^US

reconnoitre^UK

go from place to place

go for a constitutional

more ❯

Verb

▲

To take or perform in turns, changing back and forth or in succession

go from one extreme to the other

move backward and forward

more ❯

Verb

▲

To have doubts or suspicions about

have reservations about

be suspicious of

have doubts about

have misgivings about

feel uneasy about

harbour suspicions about

have no confidence in

have no faith in

cast doubt on

be chary of

have suspicions about

regard with suspicion

harbour reservations about

feel apprehensive about

have a funny feeling about

discount

look askance at

take with a grain of salt

take with a pinch of salt

entertain doubts about

have hesitations about

cast aspersions on

raise objections to

express reservations about

throw doubt on

express suspicions about

blow out of the water

criticize^US

criticise^UK

drive a coach and horses through

throw down the gauntlet

put up a fight against

set your face against

stand up and be counted against

pick an argument with

prove to be wrong

hammer away at

be at odds

argue the pros and cons of

show to be wrong

bandy words concerning

have an argument about

inquire^US

enquire^UK

more ❯

Verb

▲

To waste time by doing nothing in particular

do nothing in particular

molder^US

moulder^UK

sit back and do nothing

more ❯

Noun

▲

The quality or state of being uncertain or hesitant

skepticism^US

scepticism^UK

temporizing^US

temporising^UK

cavilling^UK

kicking the can down the road

caviling^US

more ❯

“The shilly-shally of the politician was evident in his constant changing of positions on the important issue.”

Adjective

▲

Hesitant or uncertain in nature or approach

sceptical^UK

skeptical^US

on the horns of a dilemma

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What is another word for shilly-shally?

Need synonyms for shilly-shally? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

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