1
as in leisurely
moving or proceeding at less than the normal, desirable, or required speed
thus far progress on the project has been tardy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delayed
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time
explained that I was tardy because my car had broken down on the way to work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 tardy
His tardy arrival caused a two-hour delay and European delegates, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, staged a walkout.
UEFA, the European federation, issued a harsh statement following the walkout.
—
Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Most importantly, try not to be tardy to the party.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2025
With the program, parents receive a text message notification if their child is tardy or absent.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
There’s just one problem: Jey vs. Jimmy is slated for early in the program, and the famously tardy Lil Wayne is a little late — but, uncharacteristically, just a little.
—Shaheem Reid, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tardy
Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Most importantly, try not to be tardy to the party.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2025
With the program, parents receive a text message notification if their child is tardy or absent.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
There’s just one problem: Jey vs. Jimmy is slated for early in the program, and the famously tardy Lil Wayne is a little late — but, uncharacteristically, just a little.
—Shaheem Reid, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tardy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tardy
Adjective
-
Moroney crafted a rough melody for that section, and her friends all chipped in in leisurely fashion.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Take a leisurely walk through the bucolic pastureland and enjoy watching these beautiful gentle creatures enjoy their home.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Three organic meats are on offer for Sunday roast: slow roasted Black Angus, with creamed horseradish; succulent Tamworth Pork with bramley apple sauce and Texel Lamb with a classic mint sauce.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Through back-and-forth-through-time storytelling, the film centers on Ryota’s emotional journey of honoring his late brother Sota’s legacy and overcoming his own pain to help elevate the team.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Brazilians have a word for players such as Jair Cunha, Nottingham Forest’s latest defensive recruit.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Reporting meant hours of conversation in the car; room for asking the same questions over and over; the gradual diminishment of one’s embarrassment about being ignorant or uncertain; a dilatory attitude of quiet listening and watching; the possibility of misunderstandings resolved.—
Joshua Rothman,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
-
He can’t be blamed for the agency’s dilatory response to problems at the plant.—
The Editorial Board,
WSJ,
25 May 2022
Adjective
-
For delinquent drivers wanting to leave nothing to chance, perhaps a good day to hail a taxi.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
That’s the highest amount of delinquent payments since the third quarter of 2015.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Scrambling to recall a few staff and issue some belated funding is just window dressing.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Please accept our belated apology.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
25 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tardy. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share