Delay synonym,synonyms of delay

Similarity: Both "delay" and "postpone" mean to put off or move something to a later time. For example, you can "delay a meeting" or "postpone a meeting", and in both cases, the meeting is not going to happen at the originally scheduled time but at a later point.
Difference: "Postpone" often implies a more deliberate and planned decision to move an event or action to a specific later time or date. It usually involves some level of organization or scheduling change. "Delay" can be more general and can be used in situations where the cause of the postponement might be due to unforeseen circumstances, lack of progress, or various other reasons, and the new time may not be as clearly defined.

Similarity: "Defer" is similar to "delay" and "postpone" in that it means to put something off until a later time. For instance, you can "defer payment" or "delay payment", both indicating that the payment will not be made immediately but at a later period.
Difference: "Defer" often has a sense of intentionally choosing to wait or hold off on something, usually with the intention of dealing with it at a more appropriate time. It can also imply a sense of respect or deference, like deferring to someone else's opinion or decision before taking action. "Delay" doesn't necessarily carry this connotation of respect or waiting for a specific reason related to deference.

Similarity: "Procrastinate" and "delay" both involve putting off or not doing something in a timely manner. If someone is procrastinating, they are effectively delaying the task at hand. For example, a student might "procrastinate on doing homework" which means they are delaying the act of doing their homework.
Difference: "Procrastinate" specifically implies a tendency to delay or put off tasks due to laziness, lack of motivation, or an inability to get started. It has a more negative connotation and often suggests that the person is aware they should be doing something but is choosing not to. "Delay" can be used in a broader sense and may not always imply this element of personal choice or inaction due to negative reasons. It could be due to external factors as well.

Similarity: "Stall" and "delay" both mean to cause a pause or hold something up. For example, a car can "stall", which causes a delay in its movement. In a more general sense, you can "stall a process" or "delay a process", both indicating that the process is being slowed down or held back.
Difference: "Stall" often implies a sudden or unexpected stop or slowdown, sometimes due to a problem or obstruction. It can also be used in the sense of intentionally trying to gain time by delaying or avoiding action, like stalling for time in a negotiation. "Delay" is a more general term and can cover both planned and unplanned postponements, and may not have the same sense of a sudden stop or the intention to gain time as strongly as "stall".

Similarity: "Halt" and "delay" both involve a cessation or slowing down of an activity. If you "halt a project", it's effectively being delayed in its progress. They both imply that something that was in motion or progress has been stopped or at least paused.
Difference: "Halt" usually means to bring something to a complete stop, often more abruptly than "delay". It implies a more definitive end to the activity for the time being. "Delay" can mean a slowdown or a partial hold-up where the activity may still be progressing slowly, whereas "halt" suggests a more complete stop. Also, "halt" is often used in more serious or urgent contexts where the stop is necessary for some important reason.