dithers

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The creeps; a feeling of fear or anxiety.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

It gives me the dithers, thinking of the damage that maniac could do if he ever took the headship. He could reinstate the cycle of chosen births, or enact any of a hundred other terrible laws.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “dithers” mean?

The creeps; a feeling of fear or anxiety.

Is “dithers” formal or informal?

dithers is generally slang.