dilatory

adjective

ˈdi-lə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce dilatory (audio)
Definition of dilatorynext
as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed the homeowner is claiming that local firefighters were dilatory in responding to the call

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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 dilatory And some parents-to-be, either superstitious or simply dilatory, hesitate to purchase baby items far in advance. — New York Times, 29 Dec. 2021 What makes this dilatory pace unfathomable is that Democrats know the disastrous implications of the loss of a single Senate seat in the midst of a legislative battle. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2021 Near the end of the meeting on Tuesday, Allard stopped testimony by raising a point of information and asking a series of procedural questions, a move LaFrance said was dilatory. — Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Oct. 2021 So Davies gets it right that government decisions, and industry’s dilatory response, have driven the development of EV technology. — IEEE Spectrum, 29 Jan. 2016 See All Example Sentences for dilatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilatory
  1. leisurely
  2. slow
Adjective
  • That turned a familiar one-run game, of which the Dodgers have had a lot lately, into a leisurely Sunday stroll.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Unfolding at a more leisurely pace, the upcoming lunar eclipse will have a much bigger audience than Europe’s solar show.
    — Marcia Dunn, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of leisurely
Adjective
  • Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking is based on the need for a deliberate, slow, self-regulatory pause.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow

Browse Nearby Words

dilatoriness
dilatory
dilemma
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Cite this Entry

“Dilatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilatory. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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