delaying
Holding things back
Delaying is postponing or putting off action until later.
The word often carries a sense of avoidance or hesitation: She kept delaying the conversation she knew would be difficult.
A delaying tactic is a maneuver meant to buy time rather than resolve anything.
Traffic, weather, or bureaucracy can be delaying factors: Construction is delaying our commute.
Move slowly, low
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- dawdleLinger without purpose
- lingerStay beyond necessity
- loiterRemain idly in place
drag · plod · tarry · creep · snail's pace · sluggish · unhurried · leisurely
Delay or submit
- postponeDelay to later time
- rescheduleAssign a different time
- adjournTemporarily halt proceedings
- suspendHalt or hang temporarily
shelve · table · stall · holdover · moratorium · reprieve · respite · continuance
Barrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- setbackReverse in progress
bottleneck · holdup · snag · complication · blockage · interference · roadblock · gridlock
Art of choosing moments
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
maneuvering · biding time · waiting game · leverage · opportunism · positioning · buying time · contingency
Remaining in expectation
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- forbearancePatient self-control, delayed enforcement
- composureEmotional self-control
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
equanimity · perseverance · steadfastness · resilience · long-suffering · acceptance · restraint · self-control
Causing mild irritation
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
- frustratingCausing irritation, blocking progress
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- irritatingCausing mild frustration
tedious · tiresome · vexing · maddening · inconvenient · bothersome · trying · wearisome
crawl
Move slowly, low
loiter · drag · plod · tarry · creep · snail's pace · sluggish · unhurried · leisurely · drawn-out
defer
Delay or submit
- postponeDelay to later time
- rescheduleAssign a different time
- adjournTemporarily halt proceedings
suspend · shelve · table · stall · holdover · moratorium · reprieve · respite · continuance · rain check
hindrance
Barrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
setback · bottleneck · holdup · snag · complication · blockage · interference · roadblock · gridlock · logjam
timing
Art of choosing moments
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
tactics · maneuvering · biding time · waiting game · leverage · opportunism · positioning · buying time · contingency · prudence
waiting
Remaining in expectation
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- forbearancePatient self-control, delayed enforcement
- composureEmotional self-control
tolerance · equanimity · perseverance · steadfastness · resilience · long-suffering · acceptance · restraint · self-control · fortitude
annoying
Causing mild irritation
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
- frustratingCausing irritation, blocking progress
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
irritating · tedious · tiresome · vexing · maddening · inconvenient · bothersome · trying · wearisome · irksome
- hesitatingpausing, wavering, faltering, dithering, waffling
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- dawdlingdawdling, dallying, dilly-dallying, lingering, loitering
- postponingdeferring, postponing, putting off, tabling, shelving
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
delayingexpediting
Making progress faster
accelerating · hastening · speeding up · rushing · hurrying
delayingfacilitating
Making something simpler
enabling · advancing · progressing · proceeding · moving forward
delayingacting
Temporarily holding position
proceeding · executing · initiating · commencing · launching
- delaying tacticsActions to postpone resolution
- delaying actionCombat to impede pursuit