DEFER Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'defer' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of defer are postpone , stay , and suspend . While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time. // deferred buying a car until spring

Q: When could 'postpone' be used to replace 'defer'?

While in some cases nearly identical to defer , postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time. // the game is postponed until Saturday

Q: When is it sensible to use 'stay' instead of 'defer'?

While the synonyms stay and defer are close in meaning, stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority. // the governor stayed the execution

Q: Where would 'suspend' be a reasonable alternative to 'defer'?

The words suspend and defer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied. // business will be suspended while repairs are underway

defer

verb

di-ˈfər

Definition of defer

as in to postpone

to assign to a later time we agreed to defer a discussion of the issue until we had more information

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How is the word defer distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of defer are postpone, stay, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When could postpone be used to replace defer?

While in some cases nearly identical to defer, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

When is it sensible to use stay instead of defer?

While the synonyms stay and defer are close in meaning, stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

Where would suspend be a reasonable alternative to defer?

The words suspend and defer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

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 defer Tennessee struggled from the opening coin flip, which the Titans won the toss only to defer, and Seattle needed seven plays before Lock found a wide-open Elijah Arroyo for a 36-yard TD. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 For players in high tax states like California or New York, deferring that money to after their playing days are over can save them millions in taxes. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Recently released minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's July meeting showed that the Fed deferred questions about its balance sheet until a task force Warsh has assigned to report on that issue comes back. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 If your team didn’t hand out $700 million IOUs deferred until the next century, your owner was just a cheap coward. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defer

Verb

There may be an additional time now that the weekend closure has been postponed.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
The trial of a Libyan man linked to the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has been postponed at the 11th hour after new evidence emerged just days before jury selection was due to begin in Washington.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of postpone

Verb

During the first quarter of this year, around $130 billion worth of data center projects were blocked or delayed due to local opposition, according to a report from Data Center Watch.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
The classroom pipeline feeds directly into Russia’s conscription system, which requires all 18-year-old men to complete one year’s military service, though in reality many avoid or delay being drafted.

— Bloomberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of delay

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defensives

defer

deference

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“Defer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defer. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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