delaying tactic
noun
variants
or delay tactic
: something that is done in order to delay a decision, an occurrence, etc.
Examples of delaying tactic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Remarkable for her constancy and intelligence, Penelope devises delay tactics to discourage 108 aggressive suitors during Odysseus’s 20-year absence.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 July 2026
Notably, no new rule is in place to tackle the trend of goalkeepers going down to receive treatment, a delay tactic used at times to allow their manager to hold an impromptu team talk.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Critics of the government say its delay tactics reflect a reluctance to confront political responsibility for decisions leading up to the attack and the war that followed.
—
Shoshanna Solomon,
Christian Science Monitor,
28 Apr. 2026
OpenAI suspects that Musk is using the litigation as a delay tactic while his own AI firm, xAI—recently folded into SpaceX—races to catch up to OpenAI’s lead after the launch of ChatGPT in 2022.
—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Which suggests the lobbying is less a strategy than a delay tactic — one that won’t save the banks running it, because the loudest banks in the lobbying fight may not be the banks best positioned to compete.
—
Christian Catalini,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2026
To give the pitcher ample time to rest in the dugout, especially if there were two out, Lopes had a variety of delay tactics before getting to the batter’s box.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
The move is among the most significant delay tactics available in the legislature, which runs on tradition and an ironclad 120-day timeline; triggering it this week disrupts the legislature’s budget marathon.
—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Activists recognize these delay tactics immediately, viewing them as an attempt to run out the clock and avoid accountability.
—
Christine O'Brien,
Fortune,
16 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 July 2026
Notably, no new rule is in place to tackle the trend of goalkeepers going down to receive treatment, a delay tactic used at times to allow their manager to hold an impromptu team talk.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Critics of the government say its delay tactics reflect a reluctance to confront political responsibility for decisions leading up to the attack and the war that followed.
—
Shoshanna Solomon,
Christian Science Monitor,
28 Apr. 2026
OpenAI suspects that Musk is using the litigation as a delay tactic while his own AI firm, xAI—recently folded into SpaceX—races to catch up to OpenAI’s lead after the launch of ChatGPT in 2022.
—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Which suggests the lobbying is less a strategy than a delay tactic — one that won’t save the banks running it, because the loudest banks in the lobbying fight may not be the banks best positioned to compete.
—
Christian Catalini,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2026
To give the pitcher ample time to rest in the dugout, especially if there were two out, Lopes had a variety of delay tactics before getting to the batter’s box.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
The move is among the most significant delay tactics available in the legislature, which runs on tradition and an ironclad 120-day timeline; triggering it this week disrupts the legislature’s budget marathon.
—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Activists recognize these delay tactics immediately, viewing them as an attempt to run out the clock and avoid accountability.
—
Christine O'Brien,
Fortune,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delaying tactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delaying%20tactic. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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