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
April 15 is a day of angst for Americans who procrastinate on filing their income taxes, but in baseball, this is a day to celebrate and embrace.
—
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
As things change rapidly with tech, media and society, people procrastinate, waiting for approval.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
Are Texans procrastinating on taxes?
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
What is your favorite way to procrastinate when you are meant to be writing?
—Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
As things change rapidly with tech, media and society, people procrastinate, waiting for approval.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
Are Texans procrastinating on taxes?
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
What is your favorite way to procrastinate when you are meant to be writing?
—Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for procrastinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for procrastinate
Verb
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Alexis Mac Allister, whose fall from grace this season has been akin to Fabinho’s stark decline in 2022-23, stupidly delayed the taking of a Villa corner with some playacting which even prompted Slot to tell him to get up.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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Air Charter Service offers an eclipse charter flight from London Stansted Airport that gives eclipse chasers flexibility by delaying the final destination decision until close to departure day, allowing organizers to target the clearest skies.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The lack of diesel has stalled the agricultural sector, marine vessels and trucks, Piñon said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
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In western Palm Beach County, a proposal to build a massive data center has stalled as neighbors in a suburban community called Arden have pushed back against the project, which would require rezoning to build.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Surveillance video from one convenience store that was burglarized shows a man in a hoodie crawling in through a hole in the bottom of the front door, climbing over the front counter and opening the cash register.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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Staff started out by wearing bear masks and animal furs, then crawling into the enclosure to spoon-feed the cubs formula.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Analysts have repeatedly warned that if the war drags on and supply chains are disrupted for long enough, prices for gas and a range of other goods could continue to climb.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Billy, who speaks in a honeyed southern accent, dresses in Old Hollywood drag, and lives alone in the defunct summer camp where Camp Miasma was shot, isn’t just an envoy from another generation but a representative of a more visceral relationship with art.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Procrastinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/procrastinate. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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