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

Examples of procrastinate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Reynolds, who had been procrastinating by watching Bravo, takes inspiration from the women’s ongoing feud as RHOC plays in the background. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024 Plus most of these ship quickly, meaning ample time for procrastinating wedding guests to get their gift in on time. Katherine Burns Olson, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2024 High-achieving professionals may cope by procrastinating or engaging in negative self-talk. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 June 2024 Burhan, who benefited from a shorter transition, wavered over whether to procrastinate or to push for a final decision. Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 27 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for procrastinate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'procrastinate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

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