【Defer】 , 【postpone】 , 【intermit】 , 【suspend】 , 【stay】 mean to cause a delay in an action, activity, or proceeding.

【Defer】 suggests little more than a putting off till a later time; ordinarily it implies an intentional delaying. It may imply a delay in fulfillment, attainment, or fruition that is occasioned by conditions beyond one’s control.

【Postpone】 implies an intentional deferring, commonly until a definite time.

【Intermit】 implies a stopping for a time, usually as a measure of relief, and typically with an expectation of starting again after an interval.

【Suspend】 denotes a stopping or making inoperative for a time and usually for a reason (as personal desire or a legal restriction) that is implicit or explicit in the context.

【Stay】 implies the interposition of an obstacle to something that is in progress; it may suggest bringing it to a complete stop, but more often it suggests an intermitting or suspending or a slackening of pace.