Hum and haw is an idiom that refers to the sound a person makes when they are hesitant or unsure. There are several other synonyms for this phrase including dilly-dally, hesitate, procrastinate, waver, and vacillate. These words all convey the same sense of indecision and wavering that is present in the idiom hum and haw. Other phrases that can be used instead of hum and haw include falter, stammer, and stutter. Whether you are writing a formal document or having a casual conversation, using some of these synonyms instead of hum and haw can make your speech more interesting and varied.