as in readiness
the quality or habit of arriving or being ready on time
our boss is a real stickler for punctuality—he expects everyone to be at their desk by nine o'clock
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 punctuality
Many lack abilities like communication, leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, punctuality and many others.
—
Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Petro, who is not known for his punctuality, arrived an hour and a half late.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
New global punctuality rankings from aviation analytics firm Cirium show just how dire delays were in 2025.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Budget airline IndiGo, which commands 65% of the domestic market and is typically known for punctuality, canceled thousands of flights over the last several days due to a pilot shortage stemming from new rules that limit pilots’ work hours.
—semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
The companies were assessed on recommendations along with detailed evaluations across six key areas, including professionalism, care of belongings, price and punctuality.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Gott agrees that punctuality is a timeless courtesy.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
While the cinematic show in front of 70,000 fans went off without a hitch, some fans hopped online afterward to criticize La Flame’s punctuality.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2025
These long-distance migrants are prompt with a reputation for their punctuality.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Petro, who is not known for his punctuality, arrived an hour and a half late.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
New global punctuality rankings from aviation analytics firm Cirium show just how dire delays were in 2025.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Budget airline IndiGo, which commands 65% of the domestic market and is typically known for punctuality, canceled thousands of flights over the last several days due to a pilot shortage stemming from new rules that limit pilots’ work hours.
—semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
The companies were assessed on recommendations along with detailed evaluations across six key areas, including professionalism, care of belongings, price and punctuality.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Gott agrees that punctuality is a timeless courtesy.
—Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
While the cinematic show in front of 70,000 fans went off without a hitch, some fans hopped online afterward to criticize La Flame’s punctuality.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2025
These long-distance migrants are prompt with a reputation for their punctuality.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctuality
Noun
-
As investors navigate a landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, rising scrutiny, and tough competition for standout startups, decoding what ‘investment-readiness’ truly means has become as critical as the funding itself for founders hoping to raise capital.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
By engaging early in the design process, authorities can improve regulatory readiness, encourage robust safety design, and reduce uncertainties later in licensing, while still preserving national oversight and responsibility.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Observational research spanning seven different cultures shows that maternal responsiveness, especially the promptness of it, is a universal feature of caregiving.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yet willingness is just one imperfect tree in a much larger forest.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
In a statement, attorneys from Denver law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai said the three families appreciate the school district’s willingness to resolve the case early to allow for the children to start healing.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The result — labor satire that hits without feeling like a prestige think piece — is uncanny in its timeliness.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Some of the bills introduced in response to survivors’ experiences include attempts to address the transparency and timeliness related to insurers’ handling of fire claims.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punctuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctuality. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
