dilatory

adjective

ˈdi-lə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce dilatory (audio)
Definition of dilatorynext
as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the homeowner is claiming that local firefighters were dilatory in responding to the call

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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 dilatory And some parents-to-be, either superstitious or simply dilatory, hesitate to purchase baby items far in advance. — New York Times, 29 Dec. 2021 What makes this dilatory pace unfathomable is that Democrats know the disastrous implications of the loss of a single Senate seat in the midst of a legislative battle. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2021 Near the end of the meeting on Tuesday, Allard stopped testimony by raising a point of information and asking a series of procedural questions, a move LaFrance said was dilatory. — Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Oct. 2021 So Davies gets it right that government decisions, and industry’s dilatory response, have driven the development of EV technology. — IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2016 See All Example Sentences for dilatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilatory
  1. leisurely
  2. slow
Adjective
  • At one end sits a cherry-red grand piano, and every afternoon, the young and talented Shefin Mathew plays classic tunes, setting the mood for a leisurely Champagne brunch at the Tea Lounge.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Spending spikes were sharpest in the afternoons and on weekends, while the longest, most leisurely trips happened in the evening.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of leisurely
Adjective
  • Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking is based on the need for a deliberate, slow, self-regulatory pause.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow

Browse Nearby Words

dilatoriness
dilatory
dilemma
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Cite this Entry

“Dilatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilatory. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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