late 1 of 2

1
2
as in former
having been such at some previous time the late musical director said he would never have allowed such behavior while he was in charge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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4

late

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective late contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of late are dead, deceased, defunct, and departed. While all these words mean "devoid of life," late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

In what contexts can dead take the place of late?

In some situations, the words dead and late are roughly equivalent. However, dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

How is deceased related to other words for late?

Deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

When is defunct a more appropriate choice than late?

The synonyms defunct and late are sometimes interchangeable, but defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

When could departed be used to replace late?

Although the words departed and late have much in common, departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

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 late
Adjective
Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! Sarah Han, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025 The heaviest soaking could peak late Friday and Saturday. Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Adverb
The Creator Economy took the spotlight late on Thursday at the fifth edition of Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid, Spain. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025 But his shot selection was questionable, and the Cougars got hot late in the year once he got pushed out of the rotation. Cj Moore, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for late
Recent Examples of Synonyms for late
Adjective
  • How to Protect Your Luggage From Bed Bugs From delayed flights to lost luggage, travel is already anxiety-inducing enough without adding these pervasive pests to the mix.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Sunday saw a delayed start and revamped schedule after a storm caused a shelter in place to be issued.
    Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The firm appointed former US General and CIA Director David Petraeus as Chairman of KKR Middle East in April and formed a dedicated regional investment team.
    Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Chinese Premier Li Qiang and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will have front row seats at the event which, according to satellite imagery of apparent rehearsals, could include a large-scale mass gymnastics performance.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • If your flower beds were besieged with pests or fungal diseases, the fallen leaf litter and stems from those plants should not be left in the garden.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Regardless of today’s sentencing, the fallen mogul continues to face an uphill legal battle, with dozens of civil suits filed against him since his federal indictment last year.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rivian's electric trucks and SUVs are quick, powerful and include a suite of advanced standard features.
    Charles Singh, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Elanco move jumpstarts OneHealth Innovation District With Elanco's move, the development of the OneHealth Innovation District, an advanced science hub, is officially underway.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Her coach Cheryl Reeve was later suspended after postgame comments criticizing the officiating in that game.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Two years later, President Biden expanded the protections so more Venezuelans who had arrived in recent years could benefit.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • This sensation is intensified because your coworking relationships have been so good lately!
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
  • But while Swift is on the receiving end of praise on Minaj’s X profile, the other music star the rapper has been posting about lately couldn’t be farther from it.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Joy speaks at length about growing up in a culturally sophisticated yet oppressive family and holding her artistic temperament in check, before achieving a belated liberation.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • People only 21 years or older are allowed to shop at Canna Bloom.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Late.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/late. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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