PROCRASTINATE Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

procrastinate

verb

Definition of procrastinate next

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 This means companies can, in effect, procrastinate and wait until customer demand is present before producing an actual product or service. —

Kaihan Krippendorff robert C. Wolcott, Harvard Business Review, 23 Oct. 2024 In fact, some advocacy organizations are crying foul, citing the danger of procrastinating and attributing the delay to the power of special interest groups. —

Mary Foley, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 Some come from our age: staying up late or procrastinating on our homework. —

Sara Gifford, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 A lot of companies may procrastinate or put off preparing for an outage. —

Kevin Beasley, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for procrastinate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate

Verb

Hours after taking office, Trump signed multiple executive orders, including one action delaying a nationwide ban of the social media platform TikTok.

— Alex Thomas, arkansasonline.com, 26 Jan. 2025
Tacopina was incensed by the eleventh-hour revelation and asked Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold to delay opening arguments or restart jury selection in light of the new information.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025