dallier

1 9.5

A person who wastes time and does not make decisions or take action

noun
/ˈdæl.i.ər/

: procrastinador

Don't be such a dallier; we need to make a decision before the deadline.

Examples

Tell me. You're a dallier.

Fiction book (1991)
During the meeting, his reputation as a dallier became clear as he hesitated to make any commitments.
Her tendency to be a dallier often frustrated her friends when planning trips.

Synonyms

procrastinator

vsdallier

8 4.6

A person who often puts off work until the last minute

is broader, combining delay with general avoidance and time wasting

idler

vsdallier

Offensive

2 7.0

A person who avoids work and does very little

avoids action by wasting time and by not making decisions

goof-off

vsdallier

Informal

2 8.6

A person who avoids work and wastes time

also avoids action but often through indecision rather than pure laziness

staller

vsdallier

1 7.9

A person who delays making decisions on purpose

wastes time and avoids choosing rather than planning delay

dawdler

vsdallier

1 7.1

A person who moves slowly and wastes time

adds an element of decision avoidance and deliberate inaction

ditherer

vsdallier

1 7.9

A person who cannot make decisions quickly or confidently

avoids action actively rather than merely lacking quick decision skill

delayer

vsdallier

1 7.4

A person who often waits until the last minute to do things

includes that postponement but stresses idle avoidance and indecision

diddler

vsdallier

Informal

1 9.9

A person who wastes time and does no real work

is more about avoiding decisions and purposeful inaction than silliness

lounger

vsdallier

1 5.8

A person who often rests and does very little

leans more toward active avoidance of choices and tasks

slowcoach

vsdallier

Offensive

1 8.4

A person who takes a long time to do things and makes others wait

delays by wasting time and avoiding decisions rather than mere slowness

cunctator

vsdallier

Archaic

9.9

A person who often delays doing things or making decisions

also avoids action but adds a stronger sense of idle time wasting

dillydallier

vsdallier

Informal

8.6

A person who wastes time by being slow to act or decide

focuses more on avoiding decisions and action rather than mere slowness

temporizer

vsdallier

Formal

9.9

A person who delays action to wait for a better moment

wastes time more passively and avoids acting rather than seeking advantage

piddler

vsdallier

Informal

9.7

A person who wastes time on small unimportant tasks instead of doing useful work

wastes time similarly but with a stronger focus on avoiding choices

todger dodger

vsdallier

Offensive

9.9

A person who avoids work or duties by making excuses

avoids action similarly but with more general time wasting and indecision

Antonyms

doer

40 3.5

A person who takes action to finish tasks

decider

7 4.4

A person or group that makes the final choice

How Indecisive

vacillator

9.7

procrastinator

8 4.6

dallier

1 9.5

hesitater

6.5

Surface Forms

dallier singular

dalliers plural

Morphology

dallier = dally (transparent) = dally + er

Formed by the regular agentive suffix '-er' on the verb 'dally', so a learner who knows 'dally' can readily infer 'dallier'.

Etymology

Dallier comes from an old French verb meaning 'to play' or 'to delay', and it is the same root as the English verb dally, which means to waste time or move slowly. So a dallier is a person who delays action or avoids making decisions.