"Why, you sees [sic], Captain, your time has come, and you can't shilly-shally any longer. You have had your full swing; your years are up, and you must die like a man!"
Source: wiktionary
Shilly-shally
/ˈʃɪliˌʃæli/
Synonyms for "shilly-shally" (85 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (17)
alterationalternateback and fillback downbalanceblowblow hot and coldcautionchangedallydawdledebatedelaydeliberatedemurdiffidencedillydally
Strong matches (26)
Related words (42)
loiterlollygagmilquetoastmugwumpmutableoscillateoscillatingoscillationoscillatorypausependulousponderprocrastinatepull backretreatscrupleshiftshilly shallyingshystagger
Show 22 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: alteration, alternate, back and fill, back down, balance.
- Sentence evidence is available for shilly-shally, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "shilly-shally".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "shilly-shally"
Keep "shilly-shally" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "shilly-shally" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "shilly-shally", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "shilly-shally" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Sample sentences
6 total sentences available.
1866, Charles Reade, Griffith Gaunt, in The Argosy: Volume 2 - Page 16, published by Strahan and Co. "She would have come a few months ago, and gladly: I'll write to her." "Better talk to her, and persuade her." "I'll do that too, but I must write to her first". "So do then; but whatever you do, don't shilly-shally no longer."
Source: wiktionary
However the resolutions seem merely calculated to waste time, as they involve a whole preliminary discussion before the really important matters can be settled. If the Liberal party were sincere, there would doubtless be an attempt to turn out the Government at once, on the ground that such shilly-shallying with a matter of such importance cannot be allowed
Source: wiktionary
The shilly-shallying performance on domestic issues that has marked Bush's first two years in office is not the result of ineptitude.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "shilly-shally"?
Closest matches include alteration, alternate, back and fill, back down, balance.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "shilly-shally"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.