as in unexpected
occurring before the usual or expected time
their inopportune arrival before the house was cleaned
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Recent Examples of inopportune
So, after the harshest conditions, the most inopportune circumstances, these prehistoric Europeans evolved to survive to the point of impacting time by passing down these genes that are enabling modern-day Italians to live past 100 years old.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
But both schools found themselves in an inopportune position.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
Queta’s injury came at an inopportune time for the Celtics.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
On defense, the Commanders have been porous, allowing big plays at inopportune times and receiving minimal help from turnovers, so their margin for error is slim.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inopportune
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025
But both schools found themselves in an inopportune position.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025
Queta’s injury came at an inopportune time for the Celtics.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
On defense, the Commanders have been porous, allowing big plays at inopportune times and receiving minimal help from turnovers, so their margin for error is slim.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inopportune
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inopportune
Adjective
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While the actual commercial will have to wait for Super Bowl Sunday, the Bosch teaser is another example of brands leaning on star power and unexpected humor to stand out in the weeks ahead of the game.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
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To keep this oversized look from appearing stale, designers are being a bit more playful in their approach to silhouettes, balancing shorter crops with a wider hem or bringing an unexpected fabric into the mix.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The conduct of those two agents, from the earliest moments interacting with demonstrators up through their decision to pull weapons and fire at Pretti, illustrate the dangers of flooding American cities with officers ill-equipped to deal with protesters in urban environments, experts told CNN.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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China had closed its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic and only reopened them in earnest in early 2023.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Diego Megia’s hedge fund firm Taula Capital Management has hired the former chair of the UK’s fiscal watchdog who resigned following the premature publication of the autumn budget.—
Nishant Kumar,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
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Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont reportedly wants to see the trio of Davis, Irving and Flagg on the floor before making any premature decisions.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Loose, fast, and slightly jerky steps, a sudden joy sweeping through the body like a wind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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This design helps prevent the air from escaping during sudden movements or changes in orientation.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As much as people try to avoid it (and not contribute to it), the untimely animal deaths are an unfortunate, inevitable byproduct of a society reliant on cars.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
28 Jan. 2026
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Back in the real world, Gracie has retreated into silence since the untimely death of her father, and a move to rural Wyoming — where her out-of-commission cellist mother Emily (Tran) has taken a job teaching community college — hasn’t exactly brought her out of her shell.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Sun joins precocious Mercury in your 2nd House of Logistics for a caring conjunction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The Pats are returning to the AFC Championship Game on a road paved by their defense, a defense that snatched four interceptions and embarrassed a precocious young quarterback.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inopportune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inopportune. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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