TIMELY Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

timely

adjective

ˈtīm-lē

Definition of timely

as in seasonable

especially suitable for a certain time a timely invitation to lunch that came just as I was starting to feel hungry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in immediate

done, carried out, or given without delay when I order a pizza, I expect it to be delivered in a timely manner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of timely Prima Facie carries a bracing, important, timely lesson about getting justice for victims of rape. — Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2026 Tommy Hilfiger knows his way around prep, and this capsule gives the classics — from cable knits and varsity jackets to denim and chinos — a timely refresh, in the form of sharper proportions fused with archival touches. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026 As former White House official Bob McNally describes in his timely book Crude Volatility, oil prices tend to swing more widely than other commodities because demand is assumed to be highly inelastic. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Also, a positive Shield blood test is not a final diagnosis; the patient must follow up with a timely colonoscopy. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for timely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for timely

Adjective

High pressure brings dry, quieter weather Thursday and Friday with seasonable temperatures.

— Lisa Meadows, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
The coast-to-coast heat is expected to break later in the month, with a region of more seasonable weather in the Northeast in the Climate Prediction Center's 3-4 week outlook.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of seasonable

Adjective

His bold, unique style was an immediate hit with ad agencies, publications, the corporate world and in pop culture.

— BETH J. HARPAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Pressuring currencies One of the most immediate channels through which a tighter Fed policy travels around the world is the dollar.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of immediate

Adjective

To Saubert, though, Fleury stands out much more for his skill than his opportune wisecracks.

— Andrew Destin, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Four decades into the Air Jordan line, now could be an opportune time for Jordan Brand to borrow from Bryant’s Nike line and re-cement its own legacy.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of opportune

Adjective

These platforms churn out so much content that cancellations come at a higher rate as well, though the streamers don’t have to be nearly as swift in the decision making process, which puts many shows in limbo indefinitely.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026
The rebel group’s swift advance in Yemen and attacks on neighboring Saudi Arabia in recent weeks have put the kingdom in an increasingly difficult position, facing the prospect of being drawn into a wider conflict as the US-Iran war drags on.

— Eyad Kourdi, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of swift

Adjective

No one should be reading the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Barnyard Recruitment Manual without appropriate ID.

— Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
But on Wednesday, the Fed’s rate-setting committee unanimously agreed to a rate hike, and nearly all policymakers signaled that a second increase later this year would likely be appropriate.

— Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of appropriate

Adjective

Although pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening, prompt treatment greatly improves the chances of survival, making early recognition critical.

— Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
If your business changes faster than your prompt libraries do, your communications can quickly fall out of sync with what the company has become.

— Andrey Insarov, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of prompt

Adjective

The proper accounting of military fatalities has implications beyond public transparency.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
This hampers several of my favorite performances, especially Harper, whose Ben is full of sarcastic indignation, and June Laporte as Ginny, an aspiring reporter in need of proper mentoring.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of proper

Adjective

Reatil and quick-service restaurants can audit drive-thru bottlenecks, analyze foot traffic and flag point-of-sale (POS) anomalies.

— Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The war, which Putin launched expecting a quick and complete victory, was not an accident.

— MICHAEL KIMMAGE, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of quick

Browse Nearby Words

timeliness

timely

time-out

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Timely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/timely. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of timely

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

elegiac

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes