Synonyms of procrastinate

procrastinate

verb

as in to delay

to be slow or late about doing something that should be done; to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc.

He procrastinated and missed the submission deadline.

He told her to stop procrastinating and get to work.

Related Words

• delay
• stall
• crawl
• drag
• temporize
• play
• linger
• dawdle
• loiter
• mope
• filibuster
• creep
• shuffle
• lag
• lollygag
• tarry
• dillydally
• poke
• stagger
• diddle
• trifle
• idle
• fiddle (around)
• shilly-shally
• putter (around)
• stroll
• fool around
• saunter
• lounge
• hang (around or out)
• monkey (around)
• potter (around)
• amble
• loaf
• decelerate
• dally
• slow (down or up)
• loll
• mess around
• plod
• ease
• inch
• lumber

Dissimilar Words

• breeze
• scramble
• hustle
• hurtle
• run
• dart
• hump
• stampede
• jog
• accelerate
• gallop
• sprint
• trot
• speed (up)
• quicken
• hurry
• catch up
• overtake
• rush
• bowl
• outrun
• course
• career
• hasten
• race
• outstrip
• scurry
• outpace
• fly
• tear
• speed
• rip
• scoot
• rocket
• bolt
• whirl
• whisk
• dash
• fast-forward
• zip
• barrel
• whiz
• hotfoot (it)
• scud

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

Recent Examples of procrastinate

Unfortunately, according to Schreiber, Congress is likely to continue to procrastinate. — Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026

Yet, instead of taking advantage of this lull to prepare for the future by upgrading transmission lines and incorporating smart grid technologies en masse, policymakers procrastinated. — Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026

What is your favorite way to procrastinate when you are meant to be working? — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Apr. 2026

Most Americans have no trust or will Millions of Americans put off writing estate plans and procrastinate about preparing trusts and wills, legal documents that deal with distributing assets upon death. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!