dither 1 of 2

noun

Definition of dithernext
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

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2
as in butterflies
a sense of panic or extreme nervousness we were all in a dither while we waited for the test results

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dither

2 of 2

verb

ˈdi-t͟hər How to pronounce dither (audio)
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

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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
Noun
Europe, by Shah's reckoning, has used regulation to dampen digital assets rather than enable them, while the UK once again dithers over which way to jump. — Kjartan Rist, Forbes.com, 16 June 2026 But that counterintuitive ranking, in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican statewide in years, has Democrats in a dither and reform advocates once again saying that California needs to shift to a more representative form of voting. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
Republicans should stop dithering and use the reconciliation process to move through a unified package with only 51 Senate votes. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2026 As the authorities dithered, people across the city grew restless. — Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dither
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dither
  1. panic
  2. nerves
  3. hesitate
  4. fuss
  5. shivers
  6. falter
  7. huff
  8. sweat
Noun
  • Cripps said her son was in Japan competing in a sporting event but called her in a panic.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The answer isn't panic, protectionism or slogans about winning the future.
    — Will Conaway, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of panic
Noun
  • Multiple sclerosis is a disease that causes the breakdown of the protective covering of nerves, resulting in numbness, weakness, trouble walking, vision changes and other symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Warming the roof of the mouth—for example, by pressing the tongue against the palate or drinking a room-temperature beverage—can hasten recovery from brain freeze by allowing blood vessels and sensory nerves to return to their usual state.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of nerves
Verb
  • Treatment is more than a medication Any eligible person shouldn’t hesitate to start taking medication in addition to making lifestyle changes to reduce long-term risks, Al-Jarshawi said.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Other Western Conference contenders did not hesitate to upgrade their personnel.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hesitate
Noun
  • At barnyard-chic Le Garde Champêtre, Japanese chef Kazuya Miyashita weaves the organic vegetable garden’s produce into farm-to-table plates minus the fuss—simply smoked and cooked around the fire.
    — Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
  • These fuss-free finds from Quince, starting at $30, can be mixed and matched and worn multiple ways on vacation.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • Speaking to Julia Cunningham on her eponymous podcast, Adams says the moment when Cecile realizes her half-sister is the serial killer (while her mom was a plain ol’ one-off manslaughterer) still gives her the shivers.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 July 2026
  • Judith claims to be a forensic accountant, but is actually a career assassin whose very name sends shivers of fear through her enemies and ones of excitement through her admirers.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
Definition of shivers
Verb
  • Without those conditions, efforts to end the fighting are apt to falter, and the strategic, economic, and human costs will continue to mount.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Apartment values appear to have faltered in Oakland, an economic erosion that has unleashed loan delinquencies and even foreclosures in a growing number of instances.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of falter
Noun
  • Devers walked back to the dugout in a huff.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026
  • Not everyone feels the same way, however, and some progressive parents and staff are in a huff.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2026
Definition of huff
Noun
  • Partial drafts of his work were carried along with him, soaked in Salinger’s sweat and imbued with his raw, instinctive reactions to conflict.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Oh, and sweat, bacne, thigh chafing, and, in some cases, a smattering of pesky little bumps in the area above your upper thigh and below your buttcheeks.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweat

Browse Nearby Words

ditching
dither
dithered
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Cite this Entry

“Dither.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dither. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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