DELAY Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'delay' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of delay are dally , dawdle , lag , loiter , and procrastinate . While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure). // we cannot delay any longer

Q: Where would 'dally' be a reasonable alternative to 'delay'?

The words dally and delay can be used in similar contexts, but dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary. // stop dallying and get to work

Q: When can 'lag' be used instead of 'delay'?

In some situations, the words lag and delay are roughly equivalent. However, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others. // lagging behind in technology

Q: How do 'loiter' and 'dawdle' relate to one another, in the sense of 'delay'?

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

Q: When is 'procrastinate' a more appropriate choice than 'delay'?

The synonyms procrastinate and delay are sometimes interchangeable, but procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy. // procrastinates about making decisions

delay 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈlā

Definition of delay

as in wait

an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business there was a delay for our boarding while the airplane unloaded incoming passengers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

delay

2 of 2

verb

as in to linger

to move or act slowly she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to postpone

to assign to a later time our guests delayed their departure until after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word delay different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of delay are dally, dawdle, lag, loiter, and procrastinate. While all these words mean "to move or act slowly so as to fall behind," delay usually implies a putting off of something (such as a beginning or departure).

we cannot delay any longer

Where would dally be a reasonable alternative to delay?

The words dally and delay can be used in similar contexts, but dally suggests delay through trifling or vacillation when promptness is necessary.

stop dallying and get to work

When can lag be used instead of delay?

In some situations, the words lag and delay are roughly equivalent. However, lag implies failure to maintain a speed set by others.

lagging behind in technology

How do loiter and dawdle relate to one another, in the sense of delay?

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

When is procrastinate a more appropriate choice than delay?

The synonyms procrastinate and delay are sometimes interchangeable, but procrastinate implies blameworthy delay especially through laziness or apathy.

procrastinates about making decisions

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 delay

Noun

The NextGens often had issues with their passenger doors, which caused delays in the early days. — Natalie B. Compton, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026 Today, nearly 1 in 5 Americans (18%) have experienced delays or availability issues involving critical prescriptions or medical products, according to a National Institutes of Health report, putting timely access to treatment at risk. — Marc Saltzman, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

The rarity of the condition means diagnosis can be delayed, increasing the chances of severe symptoms. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of millions of research dollars meant for higher education have been delayed and canceled, including in Connecticut. — Derek Slap, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for delay

Noun

The second-hand market, while lacking the personal touch some owners covet, can deliver the same craftsmanship as a new build without the years-long wait—or exorbitant price tag.

— Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The Navy plans to use Pasadena as a training platform during the wait.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of wait

Verb

Patterson, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has experience at guard and center, and the 49ers needed a backup at both spots considering Toth’s lingering concussion symptoms.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Inside Fort Worth's Cowboy Coliseum, a historic 1908 indoor rodeo venue in the heart of the city's famous Stockyards, the gunpowdery smell of pyrotechnics lingers in the air.

— Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of linger

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

Cao’s deeper subject here concerns the wagers people make on their futures and, by extension, the ways risk is deferred and abstracted in our gamified, appified, casino-like present.

— Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Edwin Díaz The Dodgers outbid the New York Mets for the services of closer Edwin Díaz, agreeing to a three-year, $69 million contract (with much of it deferred).

— Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of defer

Verb

Installation doesn’t require crews to manually crawl along hundreds of miles of line.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
The Leao Tires subbrand has a huge range of truck, bus, and tractor tires for everything from daily driving on pavement to slow crawling through muddy farm fields.

— Michael Febbo, The Drive, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of crawl

Verb

Polymarket dropped him like a hot potato, though, once the CFTC began poking into his suspicious Kalshi bets.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 2 Sep. 2026
Seething at his dad for poking at his body insecurities, the comedian dealt with his emotions like any good millennial — by podcasting about it.

— Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of poke

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dekes

delay

delayed

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

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