as in delay
a state, a habit, or an instance of being slow or late about doing something that should be done
Though she has a tendency towards procrastination, she never fails to turn in her papers on time.
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Recent Examples of procrastination
Perfectionism is just a socially acceptable form of procrastination.
—
Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The triple-check system helps circumvent the ‘shame’ component of procrastination, Le Cunff says.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Rather than seeing patterns like procrastination as flaws, the book encourages people to understand their protective function.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The mind collapses into repetitive loops of thought and behavior, like procrastination or irritability, that may promise safety in the moment but over time drain creativity and the capacity to thrive.
—Jon Rosemberg, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
The time to shop the best Cyber Monday home deals is quickly dwindling, so consider this your procrastination wake-up call.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Less procrastination = more flavanol intake!
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2025
Of course, all of this was just so much procrastination in the face of my actual task, which awaited me in the GoonVerse’s stream room.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The triple-check system helps circumvent the ‘shame’ component of procrastination, Le Cunff says.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Rather than seeing patterns like procrastination as flaws, the book encourages people to understand their protective function.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The mind collapses into repetitive loops of thought and behavior, like procrastination or irritability, that may promise safety in the moment but over time drain creativity and the capacity to thrive.
—Jon Rosemberg, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
The time to shop the best Cyber Monday home deals is quickly dwindling, so consider this your procrastination wake-up call.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Less procrastination = more flavanol intake!
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2025
Of course, all of this was just so much procrastination in the face of my actual task, which awaited me in the GoonVerse’s stream room.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastination
Noun
-
The agency has struggled to meet federal and state deadlines, with over one-third of cash assistance cases still facing delays as of late 2024 and throughout 2025.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Every month of permitting delays or grid interconnection backlogs is a month where investment risks flowing elsewhere.—
Stuart Loren,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Washington — The House of Representatives is set to consider whether a collision avoidance system that supporters say could have prevented last year’s deadly midair collision near Washington should be required on every plane in the US.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
There's no collision avoidance, which is common for less expensive beginner to enthusiast models, but the Atom does offer impressive subject-tracking functionality.—
James Abbott,
Space.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Chinese renewables manufacturers currently face huge uncertainty — and often hostility — while doing business in Europe.—
Xiaoying You,
semafor.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Higher interest rates, lower housing turnover and economic uncertainty have challenged the company, as homeowners delay the pricier projects typically spurred by buying or selling a home.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Consistent with the rest of the hotel, the local landscape is incorporated into the design experience; there are local gems displayed in the waiting area, and the lobby has a giant window that frames a peak of the nearby Shawangunk Mountains that took my breath away.—
Katie Mathews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The film takes its name from the kurinji flower, which blooms once every 12 years in the Nilgiris mountain range, reflecting the story’s themes of waiting, endurance and change.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Procrastination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastination. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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