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
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Recent Examples of delaying
Mist causing low visibility stopped training in the women's downhill skiing training session this morning, delaying Team USA's Lindsey Vonn's return to the slopes after suffering an ACL injury that threatened to keep her out of these Games altogether.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
The sheriff leading the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie acknowledged that missteps were made in the case’s early hours, including removing crime scene tape and delaying requests for assistance from outside law enforcement agencies.
—Stepheny Price , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Another study of 27,651 adults in the United States showed that people with depression and anxiety were much more likely (two to three times) to have medical debt, which doubled their chances of delaying or forgoing mental health treatment.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
While the model is available to paid ChatGPT users for everyday development tasks, the company is delaying full API access and restricting high-risk use cases that could enable automation at scale.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Faced with skyrocketing costs, some are delaying medical care or dropping their coverage.
—Meg Tanaka, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The company had previously aimed to introduce it with the iOS 26 operating system last year, before delaying the launch until spring.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Persons should consider delaying all travel.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
The sheriff leading the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie acknowledged that missteps were made in the case’s early hours, including removing crime scene tape and delaying requests for assistance from outside law enforcement agencies.
—Stepheny Price , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Another study of 27,651 adults in the United States showed that people with depression and anxiety were much more likely (two to three times) to have medical debt, which doubled their chances of delaying or forgoing mental health treatment.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
While the model is available to paid ChatGPT users for everyday development tasks, the company is delaying full API access and restricting high-risk use cases that could enable automation at scale.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Faced with skyrocketing costs, some are delaying medical care or dropping their coverage.
—Meg Tanaka, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The company had previously aimed to introduce it with the iOS 26 operating system last year, before delaying the launch until spring.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Persons should consider delaying all travel.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delaying
Verb
-
Experts say a lingering cold air mass across the Midwest could keep temperatures below historical averages well into early spring.—
Brandi D. Addison,
IndyStar,
3 Feb. 2026
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By Monday, any lingering concerns about Warsh or his history of hawkishness had been largely put aside as Wall Street turned its attention to surprisingly strong US manufacturing data.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
About a third of adult immigrants reported skipping or postponing health care in the past year, according to a KFF/New York Times poll released in November.—
Phil Galewitz,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Osage County District Judge Stuart Tate twice ruled against the attorney general’s office for dragging its feet in providing evidence to ET Gathering and Processing backing up the state’s complaints of market manipulation.—
Paul Monies,
Oklahoma Watch,
3 Feb. 2026
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All of the above has to be absolutely banned along with Border Patrol enforcement near the border, arrests or breaking down people’s doors without a real judicial warrant, and dragging people away regardless of their right to stay in America.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Just as financial advisors recommend deferring enough into a 401(k) plan to benefit from your employer's full matching contribution, there is no reason to pass this free money up.—
Jessica Dickler,Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Williams deferring any evaluation about a rivalry to the media.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Shorebirds and seagulls waded along a sandbar, poking their beaks into the sand to hunt for food.—
Max Chesnes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Ink decorates her hands and wrists, poking out from under the sleeves of her gray cashmere cardigan.—
Nicola Dall'Asen,
Allure,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Stay low and keep crawling forward for 3 sets of 10 repetitions.—
RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Few things shake the confidence of a person like crawling to the top bunk of a quivering bed frame, your feet wrapping uncomfortably along the frail metal rungs of the ladder.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delaying. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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