procrastinate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word procrastinate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of procrastinate are dally, dawdle, delay, lag, and loiter. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

When could dally be used to replace procrastinate?

While the synonyms dally and procrastinate are close in meaning, dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When might delay be a better fit than procrastinate?

In some situations, the words delay and procrastinate are roughly equivalent. However, delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

When can lag be used instead of procrastinate?

While in some cases nearly identical to procrastinate, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

How are the words loiter and dawdle related as synonyms of procrastinate?

Both loiter and dawdle imply delay while in progress, especially in walking, but dawdle more clearly suggests an aimless wasting of time.

loitered at several store windows
children dawdling on their way home from school

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 procrastinate Even among clothing and footwear purveyors that remain unshaken in their promises, nearly two-thirds are procrastinating on their decarbonization schedules, a recent McKinsey study found. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2025 Hunnam procrastinated out of fear, taking another job before beginning the process of discovering Gein. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025 Again, don’t procrastinate in pursuing these roles. Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025 Two-thirds of givers admit to procrastinating family wealth-transfer conversations, according to a national RBC Wealth Management survey. Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
  • If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed due to the cuts, you’re legally entitled to a cash refund, not just some future credit.
    The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • According to the flight status report on the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field website Friday, the airport had delayed arrivals from Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and Houston, and canceled flights from Charlotte and Salt Lake City.
    JOSH FUNK, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Ukraine has been open to negotiations, but the failure of its partners to apply pressure on Russia has instead allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to stall for time to change the facts on the ground.
    Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
  • How the car warm-up routine began The warm-up routine started decades ago when vehicles were more prone to stalling in frigid temperatures, according to Carfax.
    Jalen Williams, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • His fur was singed and bitten, his arm broken, and his mouth crawling with maggots.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Amazon has already taken steps in recent months to prevent external AI agents from crawling its website, including those developed by OpenAI, Google and Meta.
    Ashley Capoot,Annie Palmer, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But as the stalemate has dragged on, some Democrats have been looking for a way out.
    Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Big bitcoin holders appear to be selling their tokens, threatening to drag the cryptocurrency deeper into the red, according to Citigroup.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on procrastinate

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