procrastination
7 synonyms and 2 antonyms for procrastination, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Putting off something that needs doing, usually in favour of something easier or more pleasant, despite knowing the delay will cost you.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use procrastination
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
chronic procrastination
procrastination is
overcome procrastination
Etymology
From Latin "procrastinare," to put off until tomorrow, from "pro-" (forward) plus "cras" (tomorrow).
Full origin of procrastination →Frequently asked questions
What is procrastination?
Delaying a task you intend to do, usually in favour of something less demanding, even though you expect the delay to make things worse. The key part is that it is voluntary and against your own better judgement.
Is procrastination the same as laziness?
No. Laziness is an unwillingness to expend effort at all. Procrastinators often work hard on other things while avoiding the one task — the avoidance is usually about the feeling attached to the task, such as anxiety or perfectionism, rather than about effort.
What is the literal meaning of procrastinate?
It comes from the Latin "cras," meaning tomorrow — so procrastinating is literally putting something forward to tomorrow.
