SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
temporize
verb
To delay a decision or action in order to gain time.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Delay to gain time
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topTemporize deliberately gains time or avoids immediate commitment. Procrastinate may be habitual delay without a strategic purpose.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See temporize in use
Unable to choose a venue, the organizers continued to temporize.
The organizer next tried to temporize by requesting another discussion mainly to gain time before choosing a title.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license