as in delayed
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time
a belated birthday card
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Recent Examples of belated
Then, at the end of the episode, Slightly pulls Arthur’s body into a ventilation shaft, in what could be a belated act of regret or an attempt to preserve a Xenomorph host body before any other aliens can eat it.
—
Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Scrambling to recall a few staff and issue some belated funding is just window dressing.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
The misguided focus on containment is a belated echo of the nuclear age, when the United States and others limited the spread of atomic bombs by restricting access to enriched uranium, by keeping an eye on what certain scientists were doing and by sending inspectors into labs and military bases.
—Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
At the time of the film’s release in theaters in October, both Crowe and Adria Petty talked with Variety about what the very belated re-release of the film after more than 40 years meant to them.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belated
Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Scrambling to recall a few staff and issue some belated funding is just window dressing.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
The misguided focus on containment is a belated echo of the nuclear age, when the United States and others limited the spread of atomic bombs by restricting access to enriched uranium, by keeping an eye on what certain scientists were doing and by sending inspectors into labs and military bases.
—Zeynep Tufekci, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
At the time of the film’s release in theaters in October, both Crowe and Adria Petty talked with Variety about what the very belated re-release of the film after more than 40 years meant to them.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belated
Adjective
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In a delayed broadcast of the event, edited and aired two hours later, BBC did not remove the slur.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
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The same happened on Artemis 1, a delayed but ultimately successful uncrewed mission to lunar orbit that flew in late 2022.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While parts of the state were hammered by Monday’s blizzard, snowfall totals in Boston were below the two feet that fell in late January’s massive storm.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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Paramount’s latest offer enhanced its earlier $30-a-share bid, valued at $108 billion, said a person familiar with the process who was not authorized to comment publicly.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But Bob is historically tardy and his research and prep work is historically always pretty lacking.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
25 Feb. 2026
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Students who missed a class while participating were cited as being absent or tardy, U-46 officials said.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In the Supreme Court Tuesday, the justices struggled mightily to figure out how such a small amount of delinquent tax money could have led to a foreclosure sale.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
25 Feb. 2026
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While the outcome varies, many creditors will agree to settle for 30% to 50% less than the full balance rather than risk getting nothing at all, particularly if accounts are already delinquent.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance nears one month, the intense focus on her case is drawing overdue attention to other missing person cases that have long gone unnoticed.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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Her appearance on this ballot feels like an overdue acknowledgment for an artist whose influence on music culture far exceeds what any single album sales figure could capture.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belated. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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