PROCRASTINATE Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'procrastinate' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of procrastinate are dally , dawdle , delay , lag , and loiter . While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. // procrastinates about making decisions

Q: When could 'dally' be used to replace 'procrastinate'?

While the synonyms dally and procrastinate are close in meaning, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary. // stop dallying and get to work

Q: When might 'delay' be a better fit than 'procrastinate'?

In some situations, the words delay and procrastinate are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure). // we cannot delay any longer

Q: When can 'lag' be used instead of 'procrastinate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to procrastinate , lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others. // lagging behind in technology

Q: How are the words 'loiter' and 'dawdle' related as synonyms of 'procrastinate'?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time. // loitered at several store windows // children dawdling on their way home from school

procrastinate

verb

Definition of procrastinate next

as in to delay

to be slow or late about doing something that should be done; to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc. He procrastinated and missed the submission deadline. He told her to stop procrastinating and get to work.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word procrastinate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of procrastinate are dally, dawdle, delay, lag, and loiter. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

When could dally be used to replace procrastinate?

While the synonyms dally and procrastinate are close in meaning, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When might delay be a better fit than procrastinate?

In some situations, the words delay and procrastinate are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

When can lag be used instead of procrastinate?

While in some cases nearly identical to procrastinate, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

How are the words loiter and dawdle related as synonyms of procrastinate?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows

children dawdling on their way home from school

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of procrastinate A lot of companies may procrastinate or put off preparing for an outage. —

Kevin Beasley, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 Nonetheless, DeJoy said, voters shouldn’t procrastinate with mail-in ballots this election season. —

David Sharp, Chicago Tribune, 16 Sep. 2024 But goals that feel overwhelming can lead people to procrastinate. —

Stephanie Harrison, Contributor, CNBC, 29 July 2024 Reynolds, who had been procrastinating by watching Bravo, takes inspiration from the women’s ongoing feud as RHOC plays in the background. —

Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for procrastinate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate

Verb

In a 2023 lawsuit, 20 patients alleged doctors delayed or denied medically-necessary care out of confusion and fear of the penalties for violating the law, which include loss of medical license, fines of $100,000 or more and sentences of up to life in prison.

Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The award had been delayed because none of the nominees under consideration in 1921 was found to have met the criteria. 1923: Alice Coachman, the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal, was born in Albany, Georgia.

Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024