as in stalled
formal
to avoid making a decision or giving a definite answer in order to have more time
Pressured by voters on both sides of the issue, the congressmen temporized.
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Recent Examples of temporized
Assad lied and temporized, the official said.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temporized
Verb
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Monday, a tractor-trailer pulling a load of Acme bricks stalled on the tracks at a railroad crossing on West Sullenberger Avenue, Malvern Fire Chief Chris Brewster said Tuesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 June 2026
-
Ahead, Hale recounts how a project that ran out of money, stalled in production, and seemed destined to fail ultimately found a way forward through risk, sacrifice, and the extraordinary loyalty of one friend.—
DJ Hale,
IndieWire,
23 June 2026
Verb
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The theory here is that avarice and ambition can best be defeated by means of somebody else’s avarice and ambition; power’s inevitable corrupting effect is thereby mitigated or delayed.—
Ann Manov,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
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Automatic contributions, delayed payment windows, small rituals that add friction to impulse spending — these are all behavioral architecture moves, not acts of self-denial.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Verb
-
When a father in an England jersey led his young sons toward the concourse, one lingered behind long enough to see Croatia’s Martin Baturina score in the 36th minute, after which the youngster registered his disgust.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
-
That faded almost immediately, though the headache lingered half the day.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Temporized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temporized. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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