as in tardiness
the quality or state of being late
we were unable to get into the movie due to our lateness in arriving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 lateness
At the George offices, Berman loses it once and for all at John’s lateness, his indifference to the daily operations of the magazine, and his hardheaded refusal to consider the TV show.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
The lateness of the case is the Democrats’ own fault.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Staff who arrive late will be marked with an excused lateness, according to the district.
—Laura Fay, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
How must Yves Bissouma, who was left out of the squad for August’s UEFA Super Cup penalty shootout defeat to Paris-Saint Germain due to persistent lateness, feel watching his team-mate avoid facing the consequences?
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Feldman provides an exceptional guide to a culture that produced castrati only to discard them, and to the haunted sense of too-lateness that left Moreschi outside his own life.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
People who find that lateness is affecting their everyday life and relationships may benefit from discussing their concerns with a healthcare provider or mental health professional.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
The commenter went on to note that being occasionally late is one thing, but chronic lateness at someone else’s expense crosses a line.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
What makes Tagovailoa’s comments of particular concern was that habitual lateness led to the team’s cultural reset ahead of the 2025 season, something that involved trading away one of their best players in Jalen Ramsey.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
The lateness of the case is the Democrats’ own fault.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
Staff who arrive late will be marked with an excused lateness, according to the district.
—Laura Fay, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
How must Yves Bissouma, who was left out of the squad for August’s UEFA Super Cup penalty shootout defeat to Paris-Saint Germain due to persistent lateness, feel watching his team-mate avoid facing the consequences?
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Feldman provides an exceptional guide to a culture that produced castrati only to discard them, and to the haunted sense of too-lateness that left Moreschi outside his own life.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
People who find that lateness is affecting their everyday life and relationships may benefit from discussing their concerns with a healthcare provider or mental health professional.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
The commenter went on to note that being occasionally late is one thing, but chronic lateness at someone else’s expense crosses a line.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
What makes Tagovailoa’s comments of particular concern was that habitual lateness led to the team’s cultural reset ahead of the 2025 season, something that involved trading away one of their best players in Jalen Ramsey.
—Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lateness
tardiness
Noun
-
Your partner’s frustration about your tardiness becomes, in your mind, an indictment of your character.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The first is about her constant tardiness for the party-ness (ohhhhh, ohhhhh).—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lateness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lateness. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
