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

Expand The White Sox and Guardians were forced to go to their bullpens after rain caused a 2-hour, 23-minute delay just ahead of the second inning at Rate Field. — Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 Contrary to the traditional labor theory of value, which calculates the value of a good or service through the amount of labor required to produce it, Poliks and Trillo posit latency and delay to be the true sources of value. — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

The merger, which was originally expected to close much sooner, was delayed for more than two years amid regulatory scrutiny and legal disputes. — Bydebbie Carlson, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026 In a statement, Corene Kendrick, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney who represents prisoners in the lawsuit, applauded the court’s refusal to delay the takeover, also known as a receivership. — Jacques Billeaud, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for delay

Noun

The in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, are in custody and on Wednesday were charged with murder with special circumstances for allegedly lying in wait.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Multiple videos have shown customers lining up out the door, as wait times have also increased due to additional traffic.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of wait

Verb

With their feelings for each other blossoming, the two go out for dinner, which is full of Rushville patrons with lingering hatred for Hal.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
In the scene, Simon’s family speaks Kreyòl — although to varying degrees of proficiency — and the camera lingers on the Haitian feast presented on the table.

— Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of linger

Verb

Court proceedings for the case were postponed in April, when Superior Court Judge Jason Disbrow ordered that Edge be transferred to a state psychiatric facility after authorities said the veteran lacked the mental capacity to proceed to trial.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2026
All other homecoming activities were postponed except for the dance, which will include additional security, Timberline Principal Chad Wright and school district officials said in an email to parents and staff.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of postpone

Verb

Oil prices have stayed above $100 per barrel as the Middle East conflict dragged on with few signs of a diplomatic off-ramp.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
But as the weeks dragged on, and the talks between the companies continued, Ellison and his team felt that they were not being taken seriously, and that WBD was preferencing other bidders.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of drag

Verb

The judge deferred ruling on Rashbaum’s constitutional challenge until after trial, and the issue became moot when the jury acquitted Renaud on all counts.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
The catch is the tax obligations don’t go away completely, they are just deferred until next year.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of defer

Verb

Introduced crawling through the Trask family’s field, her black blood spattering their rich soil like a human pesticide, Cathy personifies the series’ potent blend of dread and beauty.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2026
But centering a nearly dead Cathy Ames (Florence Pugh) is Kazan’s entire intention with this project, and snagging us with the image of her bloody body crawling toward the Trasks’ farmhouse is a tip of the hand toward where East of Eden is going.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of crawl

Verb

Sergio Flores | Bloomberg | Getty Images PepsiCo on Thursday reported quarterly earnings and revenue that topped analysts' expectations, fueled by international growth as its North American business continues to lag.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
His message to men dealing with low energy, slow recovery or lagging strength is practical.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of lag

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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 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of delay

noun

verb

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