as in later
after the due, usual, or proper time
she belatedly realized that it had been her friend's birthday the day before
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Recent Examples of belatedly
After Carter scored on the Magic's second offensive rebound of their final possession, Luka Doncic belatedly got the ball to James, whose desperation shot didn't go.
—
ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
News outlets are belatedly reporting that the Islamic Republic has used the cover of a sustained media blackout to carry out the most extensive repression in its history.
—Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The audit was ordered last year after the Blue Hills Civic Association belatedly reported that $300,000 in state money disappeared in 2024 through a fraudulent bank transfer.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Gasperini belatedly wanted to talk about beating Lecce in the absence of his first-choice defence and of club captain Lorenzo Pellegrini in midfield.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Credit to the administration for realizing – belatedly – that blindly putting tariffs on food that cannot grow here was bad policy, but there needs to be a deeper rollback.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025
There’s a pleasing sense of closure in knowing the trio’s creative woes were belatedly resolved.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
Barkov deserves, belatedly, finally, a place of highest stature in South Florida sports history as the Panthers’ equal of Dolphins great Dan Marino and Heat icon Dwyane Wade.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Colleges are belatedly realizing how important that kind of data is to students and their families, said Lee Roberts, chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill, in an interview.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
News outlets are belatedly reporting that the Islamic Republic has used the cover of a sustained media blackout to carry out the most extensive repression in its history.
—Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The audit was ordered last year after the Blue Hills Civic Association belatedly reported that $300,000 in state money disappeared in 2024 through a fraudulent bank transfer.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
Gasperini belatedly wanted to talk about beating Lecce in the absence of his first-choice defence and of club captain Lorenzo Pellegrini in midfield.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Credit to the administration for realizing – belatedly – that blindly putting tariffs on food that cannot grow here was bad policy, but there needs to be a deeper rollback.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025
There’s a pleasing sense of closure in knowing the trio’s creative woes were belatedly resolved.
—Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
Barkov deserves, belatedly, finally, a place of highest stature in South Florida sports history as the Panthers’ equal of Dolphins great Dan Marino and Heat icon Dwyane Wade.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Colleges are belatedly realizing how important that kind of data is to students and their families, said Lee Roberts, chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill, in an interview.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belatedly
Adverb
-
Days later, the House voted to reprimand Garcia after a fellow Democrat brought a censure resolution to the floor.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Mar. 2026
-
On the domestic front, consumers will likely see the EV giant’s new product launches later this year, with the company’s new battery in focus, according to Cheng.—
Matthew Chin,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Then late last year Stacey Wondra was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping in the second degree, destruction of evidence and a persistent violator enhancement, which can be added by prosecutors when someone has been convicted of at least three felonies.—
Alex Brizee
March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The transaction will close as early as late this year.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
4 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
In every state with a March 3 primary, Democrats hoped that the GOP’s total commitment to Trump would eventually backfire — not now, but by November.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Kruger and Brooks overlapped on the show for six years (on and off), with Kruger eventually wrapping up her time in 2021.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
For those who can’t jump — or jog, climb stairs, play pickleball or engage in other exercises that involve impact — the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests heel drops, which involve rising to your toes, then slowly lowering your heels to the ground.—
Adam Cohen,
Oklahoman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Subway tile and large-format tiles were once all the rage, but they're slowly being phased out in favor of more dynamic, colorful options.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belatedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belatedly. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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