to dither

Examples

• All

• We are dithering with our foreign policy.

• Business owners and managers don't dither endlessly over what to do; they gather information and act.

  Blog text (13)

• Why dither around, get to the point and just say it.

• He'll dither around for a while, but not long.

  Possession (2002)

• What I got was so disappointing: Heroes who dither when a decision is called for.

  Blog text (18)

• Just like they did with Greece, Germany will dither while blocking money to Spain until it's too late.

  Blog text (29)

• Now here she was dithering about, and she hated herself for it.

  Fiction book (1994)

• On virtually every issue, the Legislature has dithered rather than taking action.

  Blog text (25)

• Come along, young man, don't stand there dithering.

  Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966)

• Others acted decisively with lockdowns, but the Prime Minister dithered and delayed with deadly consequences.

Synonyms

H

to hesitate

vsto dither

318 2.5

To pause before saying or doing something because you feel unsure

is generally more nervous and fussy, not just a short pause

W

to waver

vsto dither

52 5.7

To show doubt when making a decision

is similar but often includes visible nervous agitation as well

F

to flap

vsto dither

• UK

16 6.3

To get nervous and make a small fuss

is indecision paired with nervousness rather than mere agitation without choice

W

to waffle

vsto dither

15 8.3

To delay giving a clear answer or making a choice

is simple nervous hesitation rather than deliberate avoidance of commitment

V

to vacillate

vsto dither

8 8.1

To be unable to decide and keep changing between choices

is indecisive but often shows nervousness rather than equal alternation

F

to falter

vsto dither

4 5.4

To speak in a weak, broken voice because of strong feeling

is broader indecision or nervous action, not only hesitant speech

W

to waver in

vsto dither

3 6.6

To feel unsure about making a decision or taking action

is a more nervous, fidgety form of hesitation rather than a simple pause

O

to oscillate

vsto dither

3 7.4

Change repeatedly between different opinions or choices

is more about anxious hesitation than continuous back and forth

W

to waffle on

vsto dither

• Informal

3 9.0

To keep changing your mind and not give a clear answer

is more about anxious inability to decide than deliberate evasion

D

to dither over

vsto dither

1 7.9

To hesitate before deciding, often about small things

is general nervous indecision not limited to small matters

W

to wabble

vsto dither

9.9

To be unsure and change your mind often

is indecisive too but often adds nervous or agitated behaviour

S

to shillyshally

vsto dither

• Informal

9.9

Hesitate instead of deciding or acting quickly

is often more visibly anxious and agitated when unable to choose

S

to stand shilly-shally

vsto dither

• Archaic

9.9

To be unsure and not decide

is similar but typically shows more nervous movement or fussing

Antonyms

D

to decide

∞ 1.0

To make a choice after thinking about the options

Phrasal Verbs

D

to dither over

1 7.9

To hesitate before deciding, often about small things

How Indecisive

to vacillate

8 8.1

to waver

52 5.7

to dither

8 7.7

to hesitate

318 2.5

to pause

346 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology