temporizing
Delaying for advantage
Temporizing is the act of delaying or stalling, typically to gain time or avoid committing to a position.
Someone who temporizes gives evasive answers, makes noncommittal responses, or postpones decisions while waiting to see how circumstances develop: His temporizing only made the crisis worse.
The word often carries a negative connotation of weakness or excessive caution.
Intentional delay tactics
- postponingRescheduling for later
- deferringPostponing or yielding respectfully
- procrastinatingPostponing what needs doing
- draggingPulling with effort
dawdling · lingering · tarrying · prolonging · pausing · suspending · foot-dragging · waiting
Swaying between choices
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- equivocatingSpeaking with deliberate ambiguity
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
- indecisionFailure to decide
uncertainty · ambivalence · irresolution · faltering · tentativeness · reluctance · second-guessing · hesitancy
Exploiting circumstances for gain
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- adaptingModifying to suit conditions
- trimmingCutting away excess
compromising · pragmatic · flexible · yielding · stopgap · makeshift · provisional · short-term
Deliberately refusing to respond
- filibusteringProlonged speech blocking legislation
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- hinderingCreating obstacles to progress
- impedingBlocking forward motion
stymying · thwarting · obstructing · resisting · sandbagging · frustrating · gridlocking
Discussing to reach agreement
- compromisingExposing to harm or scandal
- conciliatingCalming hostile parties
- mediatingFacilitating conflict resolution
- placatingEasing another's anger
appeasing · accommodating · parleying · arbitrating · reconciling · pacifying · mollifying · defusing
stalling
Intentional delay tactics
- postponingRescheduling for later
- deferringPostponing or yielding respectfully
- procrastinatingPostponing what needs doing
dragging · dawdling · lingering · tarrying · prolonging · pausing · suspending · foot-dragging · waiting · shelving
vacillating
Swaying between choices
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- equivocatingSpeaking with deliberate ambiguity
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
indecision · uncertainty · ambivalence · irresolution · faltering · tentativeness · reluctance · second-guessing · hesitancy · prevarication
opportunistic
Exploiting circumstances for gain
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- adaptingModifying to suit conditions
trimming · compromising · pragmatic · flexible · yielding · stopgap · makeshift · provisional · short-term · tactical
stonewalling
Deliberately refusing to respond
- filibusteringProlonged speech blocking legislation
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- hinderingCreating obstacles to progress
impeding · stymying · thwarting · obstructing · resisting · sandbagging · frustrating · gridlocking
negotiating
Discussing to reach agreement
- compromisingExposing to harm or scandal
- conciliatingCalming hostile parties
- mediatingFacilitating conflict resolution
placating · appeasing · accommodating · parleying · arbitrating · reconciling · pacifying · mollifying · defusing · bridge-building
- dawdlingdawdling, dallying, dilly-dallying, lingering, loitering
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
temporizingdecisive
Quick to conclude
taking action · resolute · prompt · unhesitating · committing
temporizingresolute
Fixed in purpose
committed · steadfast · unwavering · firm · uncompromising
temporizingconfronting
Addressing directly
direct · forthright · candid · confrontational · engaging
temporary, tempo, temporal, temporarily, contemporary, tempest, temporize, extemporaneous, contemporaneous