DELAYED Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

delayed 1 of 3

adjective

as in belated

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delayed

2 of 3

adverb

as in postponed

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Dissimilar Words

delayed

3 of 3

verb

past tense of delay

as in lingered

to move or act slowly she ordered the kids to stop delaying and to get to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deferred

to assign to a later time our guests delayed their departure until after dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of delayed

Adjective

In a later video clip posted to his TikTok, Ash could be seen FaceTiming his social media manager, explaining that the group’s paperwork caused the delayed entry. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026 The delayed flight was one of two crises that Haitian officials faced on Thursday with deportees being returned from the United States. — Gérard Maxineau, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 After Tuesday’s practice, Purdy detailed how a delayed throw to Luke Farrell got intercepted by linebacker Del-Shawn Phillips off near the goal line. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026 The Real Problem Is The Ripple A delayed flight is easy to detect. — Ishraq Khan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 In that trial, rings of contacts of cases, as well as contacts of the contacts, were randomized to either get the vaccine immediately or on a delayed basis. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026 Ahead of the commissioners’ discussion and delayed vote, there was a flood of opposition from residents, politicians and voting right groups. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026 The impact is already being felt across various regions, from a delayed start to the Indian monsoon to a temporary halt to Peru’s fishing season. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 21 June 2026 That meant a delayed return to full activities. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 9 June 2026

Verb

But technical and regulatory hurdles repeatedly delayed certification of the largest version of Boeing's bestselling 737 family. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026 Results were delayed after late openings forced more than 100 polling stations to extend voting hours Monday. — CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 The results were delayed after late openings forced more than 100 polling stations to extend voting hours Monday. — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 The sentencing has been delayed twice, following disagreements from the defense and prosecution about potential sentencing enhancements. — Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 Data Center Watch found that local opposition blocked or delayed at least 75 projects worth approximately $130 billion nationwide in the first quarter of 2026 alone. — Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 The council previously delayed a decision in August after residents raised concerns about traffic, parking, emergency access and safety. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, Air France-KLM has suspended flights to Riyadh until 31 October and Delta Air Lines has delayed planned services from Atlanta to Riyadh, initially due to start on October 23, until March 2027. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026 Stringer | Reuters Delta Air Lines delayed the launch of its nonstop service between Atlanta and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following recent attacks on the capital city's airport. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for delayed

Adjective

But Merkle, on first base, went to the clubhouse without touching second base, and the Cubs recovered the ball and got a belated force-out at second.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
With the belated realization that the Chinese had indeed overtaken them in the burgeoning electric-vehicle business, the world’s other car-makers descended into doom and gloom.

— Jamie Kitman, Air Mail, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of belated

Verb

Moton lingered on the turf for a while, punching the turf in pain and dread, before a cart came out to transport him to the locker room.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
But the nearly three dozen residents who still live there say the town is still filled with those who lingered after their deaths.

— Joy Benedict, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of lingered

Verb

The game was one of many across the Southland delayed or postponed by lightning, particularly in Orange County.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
This happened despite the fact that calculations of orbital forcings, together with modeling of how carbon dioxide interferes with glacial inception, have suggested the next ice age was postponed by tens of thousands of years.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of postponed

Adjective

Japanese flight controllers want to avoid powdery soil and rough terrain when the mothership, a four-legged stationary lander, descends to the surface to gather samples in late 2028 or 2029.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
The core elements—airy melodies, drug talk, copious ad-libs—are old hat, but frank tales of suburban ennui and romantic strife give the Minneapolis rapper’s latest album a refreshingly personal air.

— Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of late

Verb

Malkin controlled Lapierre’s dump-in attempt near the blue line, toe-dragged past Panther defenseman Gustav Forsling in the slot and beat Black with a wrist shot.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
In my opinion, the president and his incompetent, corrupt acolytes have debased the office and dragged the good name of America through the mud.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of dragged

Verb

His autopsy has been completed, though an official cause of death has been deferred pending further investigation.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2026
Highlands has proposed repaying the state through deductions from future state funding, but the bankruptcy court deferred a decision on that proposal until the final hearing in November.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of deferred

Verb

Giamanco crawled in through a shot-out window, reached the special education classroom and reracked his firearm in preparation for a deadly confrontation.

— David K. Li, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
In May 2025, after Williams shut off the water in a cell, 10 inmates removed a toilet, crawled through a gap in the wall and scaled a fence out of the jail.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of crawled

Verb

Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Already poked, the league bear hasn’t exactly gone into hibernation, either.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of poked

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“Delayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delayed. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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verb

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