Word: dither (verb)

Associations

"Dither" means to be unsure or nervous, to hesitate a lot before making a decision.

• When you can't decide what to eat for dinner and keep changing your mind, you are dithering.
• In a meeting, if someone is not confident and keeps delaying their answer, you can say they are dithering.
• If a computer image is "dithered," it means colors are mixed in a way to look smoother.

Synonym: hesitate.
Difference: "Hesitate" is more general and can be a brief pause; "dither" often means a longer, more nervous or confused delay.

Substitution

Instead of "dither," you can say:

• hesitate (more common, less emotional)
• waver (shows indecision)
• vacillate (formal, means going back and forth in choice)

Example:

• She dithered over which dress to wear.
• She hesitated over which dress to wear.
• She wavered between choosing the red or blue dress.

Deconstruction

"Dither" comes from old English, originally meaning to tremble or shiver, showing nervousness.
No clear prefix or suffix here; it's a simple verb.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you dithered before making a choice?
• How is dithering different from just thinking carefully?
• Why do you think people dither instead of deciding quickly?