procrastinate
8 synonyms and 4 antonyms for procrastinate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To keep putting off something you should be doing, usually because it feels difficult or unpleasant, and to do something easier instead.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use procrastinate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stop procrastinating
procrastinate on a deadline
chronic procrastinator
procrastinating instead of working
Neutral, mildly self-critical in everyday use.
Etymology
From Latin procrastinare "to put off until tomorrow", from pro- "forward" + cras "tomorrow".
Full origin of procrastinate →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between procrastinating and postponing?
Postponing is a deliberate decision to move something to a better time, often for good reason. Procrastinating is avoidance: you delay without a plan and usually feel worse for it.
Is procrastination the same as laziness?
No. Laziness is not wanting to do the work at all; procrastination usually involves wanting to do it and avoiding it anyway, often because the task provokes anxiety, perfectionism or boredom. Procrastinators are frequently busy with other things while avoiding the one that matters.
