Synonyms of delaying

delaying

verb

present participle of delay

1

as in lingering

to move or act slowly

she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lingering
• dragging
• poking
• crawling
• stalling
• creeping
• lagging
• strolling
• playing
• dawdling
• loitering
• shuffling
• tarrying
• falling behind
• diddling
• dropping behind
• hanging fire
• marking time
• lollygagging
• moping
• dillydallying
• dallying
• idling
• lounging
• staggering
• shilly-shallying
• taking one's time
• dragging one's feet
• trifling
• fiddling (around)
• loafing
• hanging (around or out)
• inching
• fooling around
• puttering (around)
• decelerating
• sauntering
• pottering (around)
• easing
• messing around
• ambling
• procrastinating
• monkeying (around)
• temporizing
• slowing (down or up)
• lolling
• filibustering
• plodding
• lumbering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hastening
• hurrying
• rushing
• tearing
• speeding
• running
• flying
• ripping
• racing
• scurrying
• bolting
• dashing
• whirling
• barreling
• zipping
• whizzing
• coursing
• whisking
• scrambling
• scooting
• rocketing
• careering
• scudding
• darting
• hustling
• hurtling
• running
• accelerating
• stampeding
• humping
• breezing
• bowling
• galloping
• sprinting
• trotting
• jogging
• quickening
• hotfooting (it)
• speeding (up)
• overtaking
• outstripping
• outrunning
• outpacing
• catching up
• fast-forwarding

2

as in postponing

to assign to a later time

our guests delayed their departure until after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• postponing
• deferring
• waiting
• shelving
• holding over
• remitting
• suspending
• putting off
• hesitating
• slowing
• holding off (on)
• putting over
• pausing
• prolonging
• laying over
• retarding
• lengthening
• holding up
• staying
• detaining
• stretching (out)
• extending
• protracting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• doing
• working (on)
• acting
• dealing (with)
• deciding (upon)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of delaying

When these systems are under-resourced, investigations become more difficult, delaying interventions that protect the public. — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

The court will sit in September to decide whether to strike down the statutory foundation of the inquiry, delaying one of South Africa’s biggest political risks. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 24 July 2026

But earlier this year, bids came in well above expectations, delaying construction. — Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

The European Union has begun delaying the release of satellite images showing shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz by 24 hours. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026

Wearable-device features that flag when your evening workout is delaying your own sleep onset — not the population average. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026

Crabtree said in his order that the court shared the government’s concerns about delaying the proceedings. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026

Still, Goldman acknowledged that delaying an IVF procedure isn’t exactly an easy thing to do. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

As much as the hero of Homer’s tale could blame Poseidon’s and Zeus’ machinations for delaying his journey, the movie Odysseus can only look inward. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026