BELATED Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

belated

adjective

bi-ˈlā-təd

Definition of belated

as in delayed

not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time a belated birthday card

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 belated Use that momentum to start a belated conversation or lead a communication endeavor. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026 Middleton's visit to Leicester served as a belated celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival, which took place on Wednesday, March 4. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026 That’s true historically — Netflix ran a 10K on streaming before Disney could lace up its sneakers, prompting a mad belated frenzy from the Burbank firm to get its own service up and running more than a decade later, in 2019. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025 China, meanwhile, is living with the long shadow of its one-child policy, which was eased to a two-child rule in 2016 and then to a three-child policy in 2021 in a belated push to boost births. — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for belated

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belated

Adjective

The filing is backed by a Phase 3 study that showed the drug resulted in significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival over standard chemotherapy, along with delayed worsening of pain and quality of life.

— Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 23 July 2026
The impact is already being felt across various regions, from a delayed start to the Indian monsoon to a temporary halt to Peru’s fishing season.

— Bloomberg, Fortune, 21 June 2026

Definition of delayed

Adjective

Both men were arrested after allegedly protesting in the northern city of Isfahan, as part of nationwide rallies against the ruling theocratic government between late December and January this year.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Goldman Sachs has launched a new alternative investments platform, offering wealthy clients direct access to late-stage private companies and secondary market liquidity for illiquid stakes.

— Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of late

Adjective

Pulitzer-Prize finalist Daniel Mason molds his new novel around Miles Krzelewski, married to a Stanford academic superstar, twelve years tardy on his dissertation.

— Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Machado, who was shifted over and essentially playing in the shortstop position, fielded the ball and diverted his route to go put a tag on Hoerner before making a tardy throw to first base.

— Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2026

Definition of tardy

Adjective

The loans backing large apartment portfolios recently became delinquent at their highest rate in nearly a decade, with the largest year-over-year jump of any major commercial property type.

— Anisha Steephen, Time, 21 July 2026
Loans couldn’t enter default during this time, and federal programs designed to help delinquent borrowers and debt forgiveness initiatives brought millions out of default.

— Nicky Forster, Fortune, 20 July 2026

Definition of delinquent

Adjective

Starship is set to fly Starship test number 13, and a lot is riding on this — the system is overdue for some proof of concept to keep up with NASA's HLS contract.

— Space.com Staff, Space.com, 18 July 2026
After several months and roughly $12 million spent on external investigations, an honest conversation on that subject was long overdue.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of overdue

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belabors

belated

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“Belated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belated. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of belated

adjective

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