inopportune

adjective

in·​op·​por·​tune (ˌ)in-ˌä-pər-ˈtün 

-ˈtyün

: inconvenient, unseasonable

inopportunely adverb

inopportuneness

(ˌ)in-ˌä-pər-ˈt(y)ün-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of inopportune

• unexpected
• early
• premature
• sudden
• untimely
• precocious

Examples of inopportune in a Sentence

He always shows up at the most inopportune times.

an inopportune sale of stocks

Recent Examples on the Web

But like a bell on a cat, that can betray you at the most inopportune times. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

That makes this a particularly inopportune time for the Fed to start asking the market to take on additional supply of mortgages and Treasury notes if the Fed were to reduce the balance sheet. — Steve Liesman,matt Peterson, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Stanford went 5 of 15 on third down and was hampered by a slew of inopportune penalties that Miami capitalized on. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

It won’t be redeveloped due to its inopportune location set between two sets of railroad tracks, Smith said. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin inopportunus, from in- + opportunus opportune

First Known Use

circa 1507, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inopportune

• midafternoon
• spermatozoon
• afternoon
• forenoon
• honeymoon
• importune
• laocoon
• opportune
• pantaloon
• picayune
• tablespoon
• attune

Kids Definition

inopportune

adjective

in·​op·​por·​tune (ˌ)in-ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ün 

: inconvenient

an inopportune time

inopportunely adverb