Hummed haw is a commonly-used phrase that refers to the act of hesitating or stalling when trying to answer a question or make a decision. Fortunately, there are several alternate synonyms that can be used to effectively convey this same message. For example, one could say "ummed and ahed," "fumbled for words," "paused for thought," "stuttered," or "hesitated." Each of these phrases effectively conveys the idea of being indecisive or uncertain when asked a question, and could be used interchangeably with hummed haw in a variety of contexts. So, the next time you find yourself struggling to string words together when answering a question, give one of these synonyms a try!