DEFER Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'defer' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of defer are postpone , stay , and suspend . While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. // deferred buying a car until spring

Q: When could 'postpone' be used to replace 'defer'?

While in some cases nearly identical to defer , postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time. // the game is postponed until Saturday

Q: When is it sensible to use 'stay' instead of 'defer'?

While the synonyms stay and defer are close in meaning, stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority. // the governor stayed the execution

Q: Where would 'suspend' be a reasonable alternative to 'defer'?

The words suspend and defer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied. // business will be suspended while repairs are underway

defer

verb

di-ˈfər

Definition of defer next

as in to postpone

to assign to a later time we agreed to defer a discussion of the issue until we had more information

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word defer distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of defer are postpone, stay, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When could postpone be used to replace defer?

While in some cases nearly identical to defer, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

When is it sensible to use stay instead of defer?

While the synonyms stay and defer are close in meaning, stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

Where would suspend be a reasonable alternative to defer?

The words suspend and defer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

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 defer Rendon was set to enter the final year of a seven-year, $245 million contract, but the final year of the contract will be deferred in the range of three to five years, according to The Athletic. —

Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025 The risk was known, but the protection was deferred. —

Farshid Vahedifard, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025 On December 22, a GoFundMe page was published seeking funds to help Lee defer costs of medical treatment. —

Tom Tapp, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025 By coming out of retirement and actually playing in an NFL game, Rivers reset his five-year candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and deferred his earliest consideration from the 2026 class to the Class of 2031. —

Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defer

Verb

The game last Thursday at United Center was postponed after nearly a two-hour delay, as workers attempted to dry a court fed by condensation from the ice below.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
The Heat was also set to use the Mitchell-Herro-Powell-Wiggins-Adebayo lineup to start Thursday’s game in Chicago before it was postponed.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2026