dither

[ dith-er ]

See synonyms for: dither dithered dithering dithers on Thesaurus.com

noun

a trembling; vibration.
a state of flustered excitement or fear.

verb (used without object)

to act irresolutely; vacillate.
North England. to tremble with excitement or fear.

Origin of dither

1640–50; variant of didder (late Middle English diddere); cf. dodder¹

Other words from dither

dith·er·er, noun
dith·er·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dither in a sentence

Despite a dithering Congress and a disdainful American public, the diplomatic doors opened.
Suddenly, Great Expectations for Iran-U.S. Relations | Christopher Dickey | September 27, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
“We already have seen dithering in the immediate wake of the attack on the U.S. consulate,” says a European diplomat.
Libya Sacks Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur | Jamie Dettmer | October 8, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Such verbiage and dithering in the face of market mayhem helped Europe get into its mess in the first place.
Debt Crisis Lessons for Europe | Stefan Theil | August 19, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Fourth, Gordon Brown is a dour, dithering, dry, dislikeable loser.
10 Truths About the British Vote | Tunku Varadarajan | May 5, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Peter Beinart on why the left needs to stop the linguistic dithering—and win the only battle that can vanquish al Qaeda.
Cheney Was Right | Peter Beinart | January 3, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST

Presently he came running out of the scullery, with the soapy water dripping from him, dithering with cold.
Sons and Lovers | David Herbert Lawrence
Another fellow walking in his sleep and killing criss-cross Huns in his dithering dreams.
Air Men o' War | Boyd Cable
I was beginning to correct my first impression that Thrombley was a complete dithering fool.
Lone Star Planet | Henry Beam Piper and John Joseph McGuire
He nodded to his dithering worship, and marched back slowly and calmly to his dinner.
The Yeoman Adventurer | George W. Gough
Tom stood watching the ambulance whisk Murell off, dithering in indecision.
Four-Day Planet | Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for dither

dither

/ (ˈdɪðə) /

verb(intr)

mainly British to be uncertain or indecisive
mainly US to be in an agitated state

to tremble, as with cold

noun

mainly British a state of indecision
a state of agitation

Origin of dither

C17: variant of C14 (northern English dialect) didder, of uncertain origin

Derived forms of dither

ditherer, noun
dithery, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse