Quick answer: Prevaricate means to speak evasively or deceptively in order to avoid telling the truth: He prevaricated when asked about the missing funds. Procrastinate means to delay or postpone doing something, especially out of habit or reluctance: She always procrastinates before starting her essays. One avoids honesty; the other avoids action. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘prevaricate’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| prevaricate | verb | to speak evasively or deceptively, avoiding the truth | The minister prevaricated instead of answering directly. |
| procrastinate | verb | to delay or postpone doing something, especially a task | He procrastinates until the deadline is almost gone. |
Using Prevaricate
Prevaricate means to avoid giving a straight, honest answer, often by being deliberately vague or misleading — it is about dishonesty in speech, not delay in action.
The witness prevaricated under cross-examination.
Stop prevaricating and tell me exactly what happened.
Politicians often prevaricate when asked about unpopular policies.
She prevaricated, giving vague answers to avoid admitting the mistake.
Using Procrastinate
Procrastinate means to put off doing something that needs to be done, usually because of laziness, distraction, or anxiety about the task — it is about delaying action, not avoiding truth.
I always procrastinate when it comes to doing my taxes.
Don't procrastinate — start the assignment today.
He procrastinated for weeks before finally booking the appointment.
Students often procrastinate right before exams.
Memory Trick
PreVARIcate contains "vari-" like "vary" — think of giving varying, shifting answers to dodge the truth. ProCRASTInate shares roots with "tomorrow" (Latin cras) — think of pushing a task off until tomorrow.
Common Mistakes
✗ He procrastinated when the police asked where he'd been.
✓ He prevaricated when the police asked where he'd been.
✗ I keep prevaricating on starting my dissertation.
✓ I keep procrastinating on starting my dissertation.
Tips to Avoid Confusion
- If someone is avoiding telling the truth, use prevaricate.
- If someone is delaying a task, use procrastinate.
- Remember the Latin root "cras" (tomorrow) inside procrastinate — pushing things to a later day.
- Prevaricate is about words and honesty; procrastinate is about time and action.
For more on related grammar, see verb patterns. Also confusing: Allude vs Elude, Answer vs Reply, Argument vs Dispute. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Prevaricate or Procrastinate?
4 fill-in-the-blank questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “She kept ___ instead of giving a direct answer.” (evasive)
2. “He always ___ before starting his homework.” (delays)
3. “The suspect ___ when asked about his alibi.”
4. “Stop ___ and book the dentist appointment already!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between prevaricate and procrastinate?
Prevaricate means to speak evasively or deceptively to avoid telling the truth: "He prevaricated when asked about the missing funds." Procrastinate means to delay or postpone doing something: "She procrastinates before starting her essays." One is about dishonesty in speech; the other is about delaying action.
Can prevaricate simply mean 'to delay'?
This is a common misconception. While prevaricate can occasionally feel connected to delay (since evasive people often stall for time), its core meaning is about avoiding the truth through vague or misleading speech, not simply postponing a task.
What is a synonym for prevaricate?
Synonyms include equivocate, hedge, evade (the question), and be evasive. All relate to avoiding a direct, honest answer, not to delaying an action.
What is a synonym for procrastinate?
Synonyms include delay, postpone, put off, and stall (on a task). These all relate to timing and action, not honesty or truthfulness.
Is procrastination always considered negative?
It is generally viewed negatively, associated with poor time management, anxiety, or avoidance, though some research distinguishes between harmful procrastination and deliberate, productive delay. In everyday use, procrastinate almost always carries a mildly critical tone.
Is prevaricating the same as lying?
It's related but slightly softer — prevaricating usually means being vague, evasive, or misleading rather than stating an outright, direct lie. It implies dodging the truth rather than a bold falsehood.
What are the noun forms of these verbs?
The noun form of prevaricate is 'prevarication' (evasive or misleading talk). The noun form of procrastinate is 'procrastination' (the act of delaying tasks). Both nouns are common in formal and academic writing.
Can you procrastinate about telling someone the truth?
You could delay telling someone the truth (procrastinate about it) without necessarily prevaricating when you do speak. But if, when you finally speak, you give vague or misleading answers instead of the truth, that act of dodging is prevaricating.
Which word is more common in everyday conversation?
Procrastinate is far more common in everyday speech, especially regarding study, work, and chores. Prevaricate is more formal and often appears in journalism, politics, and legal contexts describing evasive answers.
How can I remember prevaricate vs procrastinate?
Prevaricate contains 'vari-' as in 'vary' — think of giving varying, shifting, evasive answers. Procrastinate contains the Latin root for 'tomorrow' (cras) — think of pushing a task off to another day. Words vary; tasks get postponed to tomorrow.