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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in postponing
to assign to a later time our guests delayed their departure until after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 delaying The Ukrainian leader had accused the Pentagon of delaying the delivery of the missiles that other countries have purchased for Ukraine. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026 Opaque foam boards covered the windows, blocking sightlines and delaying evacuation. — Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026 Visibility gaps can arise across business functions, and can arise when customer operations cannot see what is holding up a launch and delaying new revenue. — Rohan Joshi, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Opaque foam boards that covered the apartments’ windows blocked residents’ views, delaying evacuation. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 The process may require delaying treatment, which carries risks. — Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 29 Oct. 2026 On Tuesday, QatarEnergy further extended a force majeure clause with Italy’s utility company Edison, delaying delivery of LNG cargoes to the company until the end of December. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026 The significance of the phase 3 data extends beyond delaying a recurrence, doctors said. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 According to the county staff report, delaying repairs for a formal bidding process could increase the risk of additional sinkholes, ground collapse and property damage. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delaying
  1. lingering
  2. postponing
  3. dragging
  4. deferring
  5. poking
  6. crawling
Verb
  • Much like on Baby Keem’s Ca$ino, another recent rap epic undone by its author’s inability to overcome lingering trauma, BigX can’t always navigate around his unnamed haters.
    — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
  • How relaxing and indulgent, wrapped in a plush bathrobe, lingering over lobster bisque, juicy steak and a bottle of red wine.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of lingering
Verb
  • For months, Riyadh maintained a veneer of business as usual despite the war, but this has become harder to sustain with the city postponing events, from tennis tournaments to conferences, and now doing a U-turn on schools.
    — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The power at Westlake's football stadium went out early in the second quarter of Friday's District 25-6A high school game between Westlake and Cedar Ridge, postponing the contest until noon Saturday.
    — Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of postponing
Verb
  • Difficulties dragging the Tyler Technologies project over the finish line dogged Preckwinkle throughout the primary.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • After years of dragging friends through intense physical activities—zip-lining, gymnastics, pole, and even aerial skills—a game show felt like a lighter option, something everyone could enjoy.
    — Chanté Joseph, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of dragging
Verb
  • Millvale officials said the borough previously kept tax rates low in part by deferring necessary maintenance on buildings, ending its paving program and relying on emergency savings and other funds.
    — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But analysts said that the order may only end up deferring those payments rather than removing them entirely.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of deferring
Verb
  • But with just a step to her other side or a shake of her head on stage, the near-auburn shade moves to the forefront, with dimensional pieces of golden blonde poking through.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The smallest of the dogs, a fluffy little white-and-gray thing, is poking out of a red box on the dog keeper’s lap.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of poking
Verb
  • Insects crawling around three-compartment sink and hand wash sink in kitchen.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Pack a blackout sleep mask just in case There’s nothing worse than finally crawling into your hotel bed after a long travel day, only to discover that the curtains don’t fully close and a streetlight is shining directly onto your pillow.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of crawling

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Cite this Entry

“Delaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delaying. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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