Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

dilatory

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore D words

tending to cause delay or to procrastinate

Word origin: From Latin dilatorius, from differre, to postpone.

Start a free GRE mock test 39 minutes · free · instant score
In a sentence

Dilatory in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing dilatory in a sentence.

The defense used dilatory tactics to push back the trial date.

The defense's dilatory tactics dragged the trial out for months beyond its expected close.

Synonyms
tardyprocrastinatingsluggish
Antonyms
promptpunctualexpeditious

Quick GRE check

Question 1 of 3

3 questions, about 2 minutes. How would you do on the real test?

Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

Once a blank supporter of the policy, the governor now denounces it at every opportunity, embarrassed that she ever endorsed it.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “dilatory” well

Dilatory describes a tendency to delay or stall, pairing with tardy and procrastinating. It often implies that the delay is deliberate, as in dilatory tactics.

Common questions

Questions about “dilatory”

Dilatory (adjective) means tending to cause delay or to procrastinate
Here is dilatory used in an example sentence: "The defense used dilatory tactics to push back the trial date." Another example: "The defense's dilatory tactics dragged the trial out for months beyond its expected close."
Common synonyms for dilatory include tardy, procrastinating, sluggish.
Antonyms of dilatory include prompt, punctual, expeditious.
Clusters with tardy, procrastinating, and sluggish in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms prompt, punctual, and expeditious describe timely action.
Yes. Dilatory is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

See these words the way the GRE tests them.

Take the free 39-minute GRE Quick Mock Test and meet words like this inside real Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, with a worked solution for every answer.