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.
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Recent Examples of procrastinate
There’s certainly an authenticity to this development; who among us hasn’t procrastinated when facing an uncomfortable decision?
—
Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Nolan, an elections veteran, has sage advice for voters who may be procrastinating at filling out and returning their ballots.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Even among clothing and footwear purveyors that remain unshaken in their promises, nearly two-thirds are procrastinating on their decarbonization schedules, a recent McKinsey study found.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
Hunnam procrastinated out of fear, taking another job before beginning the process of discovering Gein.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
Nolan, an elections veteran, has sage advice for voters who may be procrastinating at filling out and returning their ballots.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Even among clothing and footwear purveyors that remain unshaken in their promises, nearly two-thirds are procrastinating on their decarbonization schedules, a recent McKinsey study found.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
Hunnam procrastinated out of fear, taking another job before beginning the process of discovering Gein.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
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It was also delayed thanks to a series of multiple wet dress rehearsal failures.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
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Los Altos Hills Mayor Rajiv Bhateja said since taxes are likely unfeasible, the hike could force the the town to lay off 10% of its staff or delay key projects like road maintenance.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Once met with only mild pushback, solar projects are now increasingly entangled in the same policy fights that have long stalled wind development across the country.—
Suhail Bhat,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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The pandemic and the need for funds for a larger expedition temporarily stalled a return to the area.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Another two were crawling behind a prep table.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
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However, these were among six restaurants and one food truck in Broward and Palm Beach counties that made the emergency closure list, with issues ranging from roaches crawling around kitchens to employees not washing their hands (one after rubbing/smashing a dead roach with their fingers).—
Kari Barnett,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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About 20 firefighters are actively considering leaving the department, Veit said — and that number continues to increase as contract negotiations drag on.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
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Her criminal case has dragged on, unresolved, and she is entitled to be presumed innocent.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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