as in delaying
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.
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as in stalling
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Recent Examples of procrastinating
Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinating
Verb
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Diggs did play in the game and made a crucial defensive play late in the second half, reading a Packers screen in the red zone and forcing Green Bay behind the sticks, stalling its momentum.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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That doesn’t mean the technology is stalling because automakers will continue to roll out advanced driver-assistance technology on more and more vehicles.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The federal government shut down Wednesday, delaying pay for federal workers (of whom there are 25,000 in Indiana), placing question marks on the financial health of federal aid programs like SNAP and WIC, and causing mass confusion and limbo in immigration court.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
3 Oct. 2025
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Staffing challenges – either at the local level, at the federal level or both – also could play a significant role in delaying interactions between the CDC and local health departments.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And, through it all, stocks have continued to steadily rise, buoyed by hopes for Fed rate cuts, stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and slowing but stubborn confidence that an AI boom might reap big rewards for investors.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For a child who’s crawling or walking, a mat with pop-up walls or fencing can keep your little one safe and contained.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
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Waking up an hour earlier than expected and being hosed with mountain runoff water while crawling in the pool tested my resilience and determination.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For Thiago’s second goal midway through the first half, Ouattara ambled back towards his own goal down the centre of the pitch, dragging Shaw and Dorgu with him.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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The clip ends with the owner managing to open the door—dragging the golden retriever along with it—as their other pets enter the frame to see them off.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Procrastinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinating. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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