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.

Synonyms & Similar 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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• 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

Third, CFOs’ (non) responses to these eight questions will swiftly inform boards if AI readiness is serious, a passing curiosity or simply procrastinating lip service. —Noah Barsky, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

Slow and steady wins the race but don’t let that become an excuse to procrastinate. —Dossé-Via Trenou, refinery29.com, 17 Dec. 2024

Some of the key signs include feeling overwhelmed by the process, dreading the act of applying for jobs, procrastinating on updating your resume or reaching out to contacts, and feeling overly discouraged by rejection. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Interviews by Kate Guadagnino Advice on Beginning Ten creative minds on how to start, pivot and productively procrastinate. —Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2024

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