procrastinate

Synonym Chooser

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

Example 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 Plus most of these ship quickly, meaning ample time for procrastinating wedding guests to get their gift in on time. Katherine Burns Olson, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2025 We're constantly told to make the most of our time, to work harder, to stop procrastinating. Joseph Jebelli, CNBC, 23 July 2025 Denying or waiting for quantum’s approach also means a smaller and smaller market share for those who procrastinate. Jordan Rackie, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 Mother's Day brunch guide For the love of everything, friends, don't procrastinate and take a chance on feeding your mom a subpar meal on the very holiday that celebrates her wonderfulness. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
  • Physical activity has long been associated with lower dementia risk in multiple studies, so much so that the 2024 Lancet Commission identified it as one of 14 factors responsible for preventing or delaying approximately 45% of dementia cases.
    Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The abundance of salmon in Katmai National Park and Bristol Bay in southern Alaska is contributing to a drop in conflict among the bears this year compared to the 2024 competition, which was delayed when one large bear killed another.
    Bill Chappell, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • For example, insufficient electricity supply can stall data center development, while waste-to-energy solutions can strengthen both agriculture and power systems.
    Maurice Obeid, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Legislature has spent three years working on a plan for a long-term funding measure, but negotiations stalled last year against opposition from a number of groups.
    Kate Talerico, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There’s tunnels to crawl through, regular live performances from Quixotic that synchronize with the experience, and a functioning 240-seat theater that plans to host film festivals.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Some coast with healthy double-digit conversion rates, while others crawl along at 5% or 6%.
    Jon Stojan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Any resulting court case within the Defense Department's own legal system could result in counter lawsuits, which could drag on for months.
    Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Need to know Nvidia probe drags on.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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