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
Defer this year’s RMD until next year In your first year of RMDs there is a tempting opportunity to procrastinate.
—
Steve Parrish, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Rather than pushing forward, some avoid completing tasks altogether, procrastinating, delaying decisions, or walking away before the finish line.
—Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Steve Parrish, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Rather than pushing forward, some avoid completing tasks altogether, procrastinating, delaying decisions, or walking away before the finish line.
—Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
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Democratic state lawmakers are still attempting to delay efforts from Republicans who are trying to redraw Texas’ 38 congressional districts, which could help Republicans pick up as many as five seats in the House of Representatives.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
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But the judge walked back that suggestion in his order that denied the defense’s request to delay Kohberger’s trial.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Texas has become the center of the redistricting battle as state Democrats have fled to Illinois, New York, and other blue states to stall a vote on a Republican plan that would add about five additional seats to their wing.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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Critics have suggested Putin’s actions in recent months have been attempts to stall proceedings and buy time for his troops to gain further ground on the battlefield in Ukraine.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Adam crawls along the floor, left, about to put his finger in an electrical outlet, right, while his baby watches from afar.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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This setup enabled the robots to crawl using sequential contractions and relaxation—much like a caterpillar.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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One person would hold the rod and drag ashore a thrashing, 200-pound sawfish.—
Jack Prator,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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In doing so, the currents drag swimmers out into open waters.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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