procrastinate
Put off tasks
To procrastinate is to delay or postpone action, especially habitually or without good reason: I procrastinated on the essay until the night before it was due.
The word implies knowing you should act but finding excuses not to.
Procrastination often involves substituting easier tasks for harder ones, or simply doing nothing at all.
Delay to later time
- delayEnforced waiting period
- put offTo postpone action
- deferDelay or submit
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
dawdle · dally · tarry · linger · drag feet · hesitate · shirk · neglect
Persistent apprehensive distress
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
- fearEmotional response to threat
avoidance · self-sabotage · paralysis · resistance · distraction · denial · rationalization · escape
When payment is required
- timeframeDesignated duration for something
- schedulePlan of timed events
- cutoffPoint of termination
- extensionAdded part or duration
submission · crunch time · last minute · eleventh hour · countdown · overdue · late · behind
Without activity or purpose
- slothDisinclination to exert oneself
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
- sluggishSlow and inactive
- unmotivatedLacking incentive or drive
apathetic · listless · loafing · lounging · lollygagging · dawdling · inertia · torpor
Delay from uncertainty
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- vacillationInability to choose
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
dithering · second-guessing · equivocation · fence-sitting · waffling · irresolution · doubt · quandary
postpone
Delay to later time
stall · dawdle · dally · tarry · linger · drag feet · hesitate · shirk · neglect · sidestep
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
fear · avoidance · self-sabotage · paralysis · resistance · distraction · denial · rationalization · escape · coping
due date
When payment is required
extension · submission · crunch time · last minute · eleventh hour · countdown · overdue · late · behind · rushing
idle
Without activity or purpose
unmotivated · apathetic · listless · loafing · lounging · lollygagging · dawdling · inertia · torpor · languid
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- vacillationInability to choose
wavering · dithering · second-guessing · equivocation · fence-sitting · waffling · irresolution · doubt · quandary · overthinking
procrastinateact now
Urgent call to proceed
get started · do it now · expedite · rush · hurry
procrastinatetake action
Begin doing something
do · take the initiative · commit · engage · buckle down
procrastinatefinish
Bring to completion
complete · accomplish · get it done · follow through · wrap up
procrastination, procrastinator, procrastinating, procrastinates, procrastinated, procrastinators