PUTS OFF Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

puts off

verb

present tense third-person singular of put off

as in postpones

to assign to a later time never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

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as in removes

to rid oneself of (a garment) put off your coat and stay awhile

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disgusts

to cause to feel disgust she was put off by his blatantly sexist attitude

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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 puts off When a leader puts off a decision, the people around them feel the pause first. — Mohamed Al Hashemi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 The longer Congress puts off reckoning with these problems, the more difficult the solutions will be. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026 Leaving clean laundry in the dryer or hamper only puts off a chore until later, keeps clean clothes from its proper place, and also risks wrinkles or someone accidentally mistaking it for dirty laundry instead. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for puts off

Verb

The injury postpones any plans to send the 20-year-old out on loan.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Or someone managing diabetes who postpones a preventive visit because grocery shopping, prescription pickups, and coordinating multiple specialists compete for limited time and energy.

— Aimée K. Dailey, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of postpones

Verb

The new approach removes the plug altogether by pairing two paper-thin nickel-titanium films that work in tandem.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
To prove to Miles that Sarah is telling the truth—that his work will lead to humanity’s near-annihilation—the T-800 removes the skin from his hand and forearm, revealing the cyber skeleton underneath.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of removes

Verb

So pretending imbalance isn't happening — like when one partner is regularly absorbing all the work and smiling through it — just delays the same resentment that often festers in exchange relationships.

— Mark Travers, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
That is not only a problem for expanding power grid infrastructure to support growing electricity demand, but also delays the process of replacing aging power transformers.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of delays

Verb

Turkey’s government insists its courts are independent as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shrugs off European rulings, a stance that has already fueled a diplomatic clash with Western ambassadors over Kavala’s detention.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The team shrugs off criticism that the end result was overbudget and overdue.

— Lauren Victory, CBS News, 20 June 2026

Definition of shrugs off

Verb

In Port-au-Prince, CERMICOL, a juvenile detention facility built for 90 boys, now holds over 700 men, women, girls and boys.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Egypt’s Theban necropolis holds over 400 tombs, a rich resource for archaeologists eager to learn more about that region’s ancient history.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of holds over

Verb

Oviedo’s Camari Solomon takes the pitch from Sebastian Galeano, makes several guys miss and takes off for the 80 yard touchdown run.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Then Bill Eppridge, the photographer, went up, pointed to me, went into the plane, the door closed, and takes off into the night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of takes off

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“Puts off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puts%20off. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of puts off

verb

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