WordWeb Online

1. A pretext for delay or inaction

1. Hold back to a later time
   "let's put off the exam";
   - postpone, prorogue, hold over, put over, table [N. Amer], shelve, set back, defer, remit
    
2. Cause to feel intense dislike or distaste
   - turn off
    
3. Take away the enthusiasm of
   "But what was there to put off the spirit?";
   - dishearten
    
4. Cause to feel embarrassment
   - confuse, flurry, disconcert
    
5. Avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
   "They tend to put off their responsibilities";
   - hedge, fudge, evade, circumvent, parry, elude, skirt, dodge, duck [informal], sidestep, finesse, circumnavigate

Derived forms: puts off, put off, putoffs, putting off

Type of: abash, avoid, delay, discourage, embarrass, frustrate, pretext, repel, repulse, stalking-horse

Antonym: hearten