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 dilatory And some parents-to-be, either superstitious or simply dilatory, hesitate to purchase baby items far in advance. New York Times, 29 Dec. 2021 What makes this dilatory pace unfathomable is that Democrats know the disastrous implications of the loss of a single Senate seat in the midst of a legislative battle. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2021 Near the end of the meeting on Tuesday, Allard stopped testimony by raising a point of information and asking a series of procedural questions, a move LaFrance said was dilatory. Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Oct. 2021 State and local governments have been even more dilatory. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 7 Aug. 2021 See All Example Sentences for dilatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilatory
Adjective
  • For an extra touch of exclusivity, guests can book private outings on the resort’s 34-foot Hinckley Picnic Boat — ideal for sunset cruises or a leisurely day on the water.
    Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
  • From here, enjoy a leisurely drive along iconic Skyline Drive, which winds 101 miles along the park’s ridgeline.
    Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The episodes feel choppy, hardly letting anything land, yet still feeling slow.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The crowd, quietening into a slow clap with the moment building, burst into a celebration.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dilatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilatory. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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