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 If your child is procrastinating on homework, don’t yell at them, said Stixrud — instead, firmly and lovingly remind them of their responsibilities. Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025 Related article These people stopped procrastinating. Mary E. Dozier, CNN, 16 Mar. 2025 Up to 5,000 Loyalty Points from American Airlines Last-minute travel planners (and those who like to procrastinate) are being rewarded this month. Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 By now, most with significant others (who did NOT procrastinate and wait until the last minute,) have already gone out to buy the requisite greeting cards and chocolates. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
  • So far, the administration has ended or delayed nearly 2,500 NIH grants, including some related to researching blood glucose.
    Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2025
  • Service businesses face real-time cost pressures that cannot be warehoused or delayed.
    Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The challenge for Anwar was not only steering a multilateral ship through stormy waters but doing so while ASEAN’s engine showed signs of stalling.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Legislators cited different reasons for why legislation stalled this year.
    Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The next day, at 9:10 p.m., Boelter crawled out of a wooded area and surrendered to law enforcement.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 27 June 2025
  • To make the stakes even higher, Player 39 crawls to the edge after the round ends.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • What were the final few days like? Exhausting and dragging on.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 17 June 2025
  • But by the late 1970s, as negotiations over a treaty dragged on, Congress grew receptive to industry lobbyists seeking legislation that would protect their investments in mining sites beyond U.S. maritime jurisdiction.
    Time, Time, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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