procrastinate

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of procrastinate 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 Laura Levine/Corbis, via Getty Images Ten creative minds on how to start, pivot and productively procrastinate. Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
  • At least three lawsuits have been filed against the company for delaying the features and circulating misleading iPhone 16 ads regarding Apple Intelligence.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025
  • Kristi Durbin, immunization and travel division manager at El Paso County Public Health, said parents delayed routine health care during the pandemic.
    Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Around the time of On’s 2021 initial public offering, Nike saw declining sales during a pullback from wholesale retailers and stalling innovation.
    Merritt Enright, CNBC, 24 May 2025
  • Unfortunately a bill requiring them to do so stalled in the California Senate last session, exacerbating concerns over whether Californians will be able to access the insurance market after January’s devastating wildfires.
    Jordan Haedtler, Mercury News, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The men allegedly crawled out of the hole to a loading dock, scaled an exterior concrete wall of the jail complex and darted across a freeway to freedom.
    Kati Weis, CBS News, 29 May 2025
  • The Zenbook crawled to the finish line in every test.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Further afield is the prospect of an India-EU FTA, although that process has dragged on for a decade.
    Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • That dragged its stock down even though the company also reported a better profit for the latest quarter than expected.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on procrastinate

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