Synonyms of procrastinate

procrastinate

verb

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.

Related Words

• delay
• stall
• crawl
• drag
• temporize
• play
• linger
• dawdle
• loiter
• mope
• filibuster
• creep
• shuffle
• lag
• lollygag
• dillydally
• tarry
• poke
• lallygag
• stagger
• diddle
• trifle
• idle
• fiddle (around)
• shilly-shally
• putter (around)
• stroll
• saunter
• fool around
• lounge
• hang (around or out)
• monkey (around)
• potter (around)
• amble
• loaf
• dally
• decelerate
• loll
• slow (down or up)
• mess around
• plod
• ease
• inch
• lumber

Dissimilar Words

• breeze
• scramble
• hustle
• hurtle
• run
• dart
• hump
• stampede
• jog
• accelerate
• gallop
• sprint
• trot
• speed (up)
• quicken
• hurry
• catch up
• overtake
• rush
• bowl
• outrun
• course
• career
• race
• hasten
• outstrip
• scurry
• outpace
• fly
• tear
• speed
• rip
• scoot
• rocket
• bolt
• whirl
• whisk
• dash
• fast-forward
• zip
• barrel
• whiz
• whizz
• hotfoot (it)
• scud

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

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