temporization
Buying more time
Temporization is the act of stalling or playing for time, especially to avoid committing to a decision or course of action.
The word carries a sense of calculated delay—not mere hesitation but a deliberate strategy of waiting to see how circumstances develop: His temporization frustrated colleagues who wanted immediate action.
In medical contexts, temporization refers to provisional treatment that addresses symptoms while deferring definitive intervention.
Ambiguous language avoiding commitment
- prevaricationMisleading speech avoiding directness
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- hedgingNoncommittal maneuvering
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
avoidance · circumlocution · obfuscation · evasiveness · deflection · noncommittal · vagueness · ambiguity
Delaying to later
- defermentAuthorized delay of obligation
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- adjournmentTemporary suspension of proceedings
- reschedulingSetting a different time
moratorium · protraction · suspension · holdup · lag · latency · wait · prolongation
Prolonged speech blocking legislation
- dawdlingLeisurely time-wasting
- foot-draggingDeliberate slowness or resistance
- dilly-dallyingWasting time indecisively
- time-wastingUnproductive use of hours
Inability to choose
- indecisionFailure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- irresolutionLack of firm decision
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
ambivalence · tentativeness · dithering · faltering · hesitancy · reluctance · second-guessing · teetering
Skillful directional control
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
expediency · opportunism · pragmatism · adaptation · positioning · politicking · scheming · biding
equivocation
Ambiguous language avoiding commitment
- prevaricationMisleading speech avoiding directness
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- hedgingNoncommittal maneuvering
dodging · avoidance · circumlocution · obfuscation · evasiveness · deflection · noncommittal · vagueness · ambiguity · fence-sitting
postponement
Delaying to later
- defermentAuthorized delay of obligation
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- adjournmentTemporary suspension of proceedings
rescheduling · moratorium · protraction · suspension · holdup · lag · latency · wait · prolongation · extension
filibustering
Prolonged speech blocking legislation
- dawdlingLeisurely time-wasting
- foot-draggingDeliberate slowness or resistance
- dilly-dallyingWasting time indecisively
vacillation
Inability to choose
- indecisionFailure to decide
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- irresolutionLack of firm decision
uncertainty · ambivalence · tentativeness · dithering · faltering · hesitancy · reluctance · second-guessing · teetering · shilly-shallying
maneuvering
Skillful directional control
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
negotiation · expediency · opportunism · pragmatism · adaptation · positioning · politicking · scheming · biding · accommodation
temporizationdecisiveness
Ability to choose firmly
decisive action · resolution · promptness · immediacy · dispatch
temporizationdirectness
Quality of being straightforward
forthrightness · confrontation · candor · bluntness · plain dealing
temporizationsteadfastness
Firm loyal dedication
firmness · resoluteness · commitment · resolve · determination
temporary, tempo, temporal, contemporary, tempest, temporize, extemporaneous, contemporaneous, temporality