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 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, 25 Aug. 2025 We're constantly told to make the most of our time, to work harder, to stop procrastinating. Joseph Jebelli, CNBC, 23 July 2025 Denying or waiting for quantum’s approach also means a smaller and smaller market share for those who procrastinate. Jordan Rackie, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 Mother's Day brunch guide For the love of everything, friends, don't procrastinate and take a chance on feeding your mom a subpar meal on the very holiday that celebrates her wonderfulness. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
  • After lightning delayed kickoff for an hour, Colleyville Heritage (1-1) fell behind quickly in a back-and-forth game.
    Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In the last few years, Beyoncé, Pink, and Noah Kahan, among others, have had concerts canceled or delayed by extreme lightning, rain, or wildfire smoke.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Netanyahu has never agreed to fully withdraw Israeli troops from the strip, which has left negotiations stalled.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2025
  • That’s what makes the difference between agencies that stall out and those that keep raising the bar.
    Raja Walia, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On Wednesday, a similar scene closely followed as the funeral procession for Kansas City, Kansas, police officer Hunter Simoncic crawled along through the highways and streets in the community Simoncic worked to keep safe.
    Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Eby crawled across a ladder over the water to the vehicle, then crawled back with the child on his back, the video shows.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The cousin tried to drag Guzman away, and saw the shooter walk back inside the house.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Mitchell was then dragged outside to the valet area, and a female Hyatt employee grabbed a broomstick and struck Mitchell with it.
    Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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