Definition of prematurenext
as in early
occurring before the usual or expected time his premature arrival at his own surprise party almost ruined everything

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 premature Just one alcoholic drink a day is enough to raise a person’s risk of premature death—that’s the major takeaway of a study published this week in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 12 June 2026 Reynoso was born nearly four months premature at Saint Agnes Hospital in Maryland, reports Baltimore outlet WMAR 2 News. Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 The conglomerate may not have been a bad idea so much as a premature one. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 11 June 2026 The results of a landmark Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey suggests that dark energy may indeed be weakening, but the authors say that powerful winds provide a simpler solution where premature galaxy deaths are concerned. Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for premature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for premature
Adjective
  • After weeks of overnight fuel thefts, Rocklin police arrested a suspect during an early Thursday traffic stop, the department announced.
    Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Alvarado said the bar made a last-minute decision to open early Thursday to screen the event.
    Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • Led by the top-three all-around results from Charleigh Bullock, Claire Pease, and Simone Rose, the Americans triumphed after an untimely exit from 2024 Olympic gold medalist and team veteran Hezly Rivera.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • He was also haunted much of his life by the untimely death of his brother Duane – the band's spectacular guitarist – and plagued by addictions.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • But in mid-June, Turner was already a three-win player, combining his usual offensive prowess with an unexpected improvement with the glove.
    Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • The chance encounter highlights how police work can take unexpected turns, even during assignments unrelated to violent crime.
    CBS News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Authorities said that in the days leading up to her disappearance, Moore exhibited behavior that was out of character, including a sudden absence and an abrupt change in social media presence, according to ABC News.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
  • His sudden passing has left his wife, Pamela, to raise their two children alone, Melissa Lynch, a family friend wrote in a GoFundMe campaign statement.
    Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • What Sebastian didn’t have, however, was precocious talent.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 9 June 2026
  • Lewis, 26, has been tailing off since a precocious start to his major league career, and some (perhaps fairly) wonder if a pair of major knee injuries have robbed him of what should have been, as the kids say, his final form.
    John Shipley, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Invading during inopportune weather would spell certain doom for Allied troops and a potentially fatal blow to their efforts against the Axis powers.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
  • But most of them are caused by Patricia, who keeps re-entering the room — the same space that was once the Warrens’ bedroom — at inopportune moments.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 27 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Premature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/premature. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on premature

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster