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Noun: putoff
  1. A pretext for delay or inaction
Verb: put off  pût óf
  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