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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dither
Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, as Biden dithers, GOP nominee Donald Trump is widening his lead both nationally and in all of the battleground states.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 July 2024
Philip Elliott, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
In 2025, my hope for the world is that governments and institutions will finally stop dithering and focus on solutions that deliver the best returns.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dither
Noun
Hamlet, famously, vows revenge on his uncle, Claudius, for the murder of his father—but then he dithers, delays, and generally goes crazy, only killing Claudius at the very end of Shakespeare’s longest play.
—Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, as Biden dithers, GOP nominee Donald Trump is widening his lead both nationally and in all of the battleground states.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 July 2024
Verb
Trump was none too pleased, but Senate GOP staffers were ready with their own complaints: Trump dithered on submitting his nominees to the traditional FBI background checks for almost a month and most of his picks have not turned in all their paperwork.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 8 Jan. 2025
In 2025, my hope for the world is that governments and institutions will finally stop dithering and focus on solutions that deliver the best returns.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
Noun
-
Pivot smarter, not just faster Not all pivots are smart; some are just panic moves.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Footage of the building’s demise shows crowds of onlookers running away from the rubble in panic.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, the didn't appear to be the case for Colton, who hesitated to answer before last week's episode concluded.—
Dory Jackson,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Touching on directing and managing the top teams at Nudie Jeans, Levin doesn’t hesitate.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
So is Aaron Judge, who couldn’t believe all the fuss that was being made over the Yankees’ new wood.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2025
-
But Newsom appears to have fully retreated on trans-inclusive athletics, conceding to right-wing propagandists Charlie Kirk and Michael Savage without a fuss in the first two episodes of Newsom’s podcast earlier this month.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Falling sales indicate that the company's financial health is fundamentally faltering as competitors are surging, particularly rival BYD.—
Alan Ohnsman,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The New York Yankees are reeling from injuries but still figure to be a tough opponent, and the Baltimore Orioles, coming off a strong regular season last year, still have something to prove after faltering in the playoffs.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Just two months after sending the internet into a tizzy with the release of Nutty Buddy Creme Pies, the beloved snack brand is at it again with a new twist on a classic—if the rumors are true.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
31 Mar. 2025
-
That was enough to send the Barron Trump fan base into a tizzy.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Project Overview Working Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $10 Every day, your shoes collect dirt, mud, bacteria—and who knows what else—while the insides absorb sweat and grime, leading to unpleasant odors and a less-than-pristine appearance.—
Halee Miller Van Ryswyk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Listen to this article Pitching with a one-run lead in the seventh inning is no sweat for Sandburg’s Drew Drzonek.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share