dalliance
/ˈdæliəns/
NOUN
1. Playful romantic or sexual flirtation
The act of engaging in playful, flirtatious, or amorous behavior intended to attract romantic or sexual interest, often without serious commitment.
1.1. Flirting and romantic teasing
Used to describe playful interactions, teasing gestures, or flirtatious behavior intended to express or stimulate romantic or sexual attraction without necessarily developing into a serious relationship.
Synonyms
- flirtation
- flirting
- flirt
- coquetry
- toying
- amorous play
- wooing
Antonyms
- indifference
- disinterest
- avoidance
Examples
- Their summer dalliance began with playful conversations and exchanged glances.
- She dismissed his flirtatious dalliance as harmless entertainment.
- Their brief dalliance never developed into a serious romantic relationship.
Related Words
- courtship
- seduction
- romance
- teasing
- attraction
- infatuation
- coquettishness
- playfulness
1.2. Casual romantic or sexual relationships
Used to describe a temporary, casual, or sometimes secret romantic or sexual involvement that lacks the commitment of a lasting relationship.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- marriage
- commitment
- fidelity
- devotion
- faithfulness
Examples
- The actor's brief dalliance with a fellow performer attracted considerable media attention.
- What began as a casual dalliance eventually became a complicated affair.
- Their secret dalliance lasted only a few months before they went their separate ways.
Related Words
- adultery
- infidelity
- philandering
- mistress
- lover
- passion
- intimacy
- relationship
NOUN
2. Idling and wasting time
The act of spending time unproductively through unnecessary delay, hesitation, or engagement in trivial activities instead of attending to important work or responsibilities.
2.1. Deliberate delay and procrastination
Used to describe unnecessary postponement or hesitation, particularly when someone wastes time instead of completing an expected task or making progress.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- diligence
- promptness
- haste
- dispatch
- alacrity
- expedition
Examples
- The manager grew impatient with the team's dalliance instead of completing the urgent assignment.
- Their dalliance over minor details delayed the entire project.
- There was no time for dalliance when the deadline was approaching.
Related Words
- inactivity
- indolence
- laziness
- hesitation
- postponement
- time-wasting
- inefficiency
- sluggishness
2.2. Playing around instead of working
Used when someone engages in recreational, frivolous, or distracting activities rather than concentrating on productive responsibilities.
Synonyms
- playing
- toying
- fooling around
- messing around
- frolicking
- frivolity
- dabbling
- trifling
Antonyms
- working
- laboring
- application
- industry
- productivity
Examples
- The students' dalliance in the playground continued long after the bell had rung.
- He wasted the afternoon in dalliance rather than preparing for his examination.
- The supervisor warned the employees against dalliance during working hours.
Related Words
- amusement
- diversion
- recreation
- idleness
- carelessness
- distraction
- leisure
- unproductiveness