| Main Entry: | protract |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | extend, draw out |
Synonyms: |
continue, cool*, defer, delay, drag on, drag out, draw, elongate, hold off, hold up, keep going, lengthen, pad, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, prolongate, put off, put on hold, spin out, stall, stretch, stretch out |
Antonyms: |
abbreviate, curtail, shorten |
| Main Entry: | protracted |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | long |
Synonyms: |
continued, deep, distant, dragging, drawn out, drawn-out, elongate, elongated, enduring, enlarged, expanded, extensive, far-off, far-reaching, faraway, gangling, great, high*, lanky, lasting, lengthened, lengthy, lingering, lofty, long-drawn-out, longish, outstretched, overlong, prolonged, rangy, remote, running, spread out, spun out, stretch, stretched, stretching, stringy, sustained, tall, towering |
| Main Entry: | protracted |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | chronic |
Synonyms: |
abiding, ceaseless, confirmed, constant, continual, continuing, continuous, deep-rooted, deep-seated, enduring, ever-present, fixed, habitual, inborn, inbred, incurable, ineradicable, ingrained, inveterate, lasting, lifelong, lingering, long-lived, long-standing, obstinate, perennial, persistent, persisting, prolonged, recurrent, recurring, rooted, routine, settled, stubborn, sustained, tenacious, unabating, unmitigated, unyielding, usual |
| Main Entry: | chronic |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | incessant, never-ending |
Synonyms: |
abiding, ceaseless, confirmed, constant, continual, continuing, continuous, deep-rooted, deep-seated, enduring, ever-present, fixed, habitual, inborn, inbred, incurable, ineradicable, ingrained, inveterate, lasting, lifelong, lingering, long-lived, long-standing, obstinate, perennial, persistent, persisting, prolonged, protracted, recurrent, recurring, rooted, routine, settled, stubborn, sustained, tenacious, unabating, unmitigated, unyielding, usual |
| Notes: | acute is used for a sudden onset and short duration; chronic is for conditions that are slow to develop and of long duration chronic is contrasted with acute as chronic pain persists over a longer period of time than acute pain and is resistant to most medical treatments |
Antonyms: |
curable, eradicable, intermittent, occasional, temporary |
| Main Entry: | defer |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold off, put off |
Synonyms: |
adjourn, block, delay, detain, extend, give rain check, hang fire, hinder, hold up, impede, intermit, lay over, lengthen, obstruct, postpone, procrastinate, prolong, prorogue, protract, put on back burner, put on hold, put on ice, remit, retard, set aside, shelve, slow, stall, stay, suspend, table, waive |
Antonyms: |
advance, expedite, forge, forward, hasten, hurry |
| Main Entry: | deferred |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | put off till a later time |
Synonyms: |
adjourned, assessed, charged, delayed, funded, held up, in waiting, indebted, negotiated, on hold, on the shelf, pigeonholed, postponed, prolonged, protracted, remanded, renegotiated, retarded, scrubbed, stalled, staved off, temporized |
Antonyms: |
advanced, forwarded, furthered, hastened, hurried |
| Main Entry: | delay |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause stop in action |
Synonyms: |
adjourn, arrest, bar, bide time, block, check, choke, clog, confine, curb, dawdle, defer, detain, deter, dilly-dally, discourage, drag, encumber, filibuster, gain time, hamper, hold, hold over, impede, inhibit, interfere, intermit, keep, keep back, lag, lay over, linger, loiter, obstruct, postpone, prevent, procrastinate, prolong, prorogue, protract, put off, remand, repress, restrict, retard, shelve, slacken, stall, stave off, stay, suspend, table, tarry, temporize, withhold |
Antonyms: |
advance, dispatch, expedite, further, hasten, hurry, rush, speed |
| Main Entry: | dilate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stretch, widen |
Synonyms: |
amplify, augment, be profuse, be prolix, broaden, develop, distend, enlarge, expand, expatiate, expound, extend, increase, inflate, lengthen, prolong, protract, puff out, spin off, swell |
Antonyms: |
compress, constrict, contract, lessen, reduce |
| Main Entry: | dragging |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | tiresome, monotonous |
Synonyms: |
boring, drawn-out, dull, going slowly, humdrum, lengthy, long, overlong, prolonged, protracted, tedious, wearisome |
Antonyms: |
energizing, lively |
| Main Entry: | drag on/drag out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | extend time of action |
Synonyms: |
continue, draw out, endure, extend, go on slowly, keep going, lengthen, persist, prolong, protract, spin out, stretch out |
Antonyms: |
complete |