as in early
occurring before the usual or expected time
the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise
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Recent Examples of untimely
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70 There hasn’t been an Italian pope since the untimely death of John Paul I in 1978, which may not seem that long a time until considering Italians occupied the papacy for the 455 years until that point.
—
Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today, 6 May 2025
Saturday, he felt victimized by bad luck by an untimely safety car in the Sprint race won by Norris and his own mistakes that kept him getting more out of his car while qualifying fourth.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 May 2025
Set more than a decade after Jane’s untimely death, this bit of historical fiction follows her beloved older (and only) sister, Cassandra, sensitively portrayed by executive producer Keeley Hawes, and imagines the circumstances that led her to destroy thousands of the author’s personal letters.
—Judy Berman, Time, 2 May 2025
Nearly 28 years after her untimely death in a Paris car accident in 1997, the world is still utterly compelled by her.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for untimely
Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today, 6 May 2025
Saturday, he felt victimized by bad luck by an untimely safety car in the Sprint race won by Norris and his own mistakes that kept him getting more out of his car while qualifying fourth.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 May 2025
Set more than a decade after Jane’s untimely death, this bit of historical fiction follows her beloved older (and only) sister, Cassandra, sensitively portrayed by executive producer Keeley Hawes, and imagines the circumstances that led her to destroy thousands of the author’s personal letters.
—Judy Berman, Time, 2 May 2025
Nearly 28 years after her untimely death in a Paris car accident in 1997, the world is still utterly compelled by her.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for untimely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untimely
Adjective
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Skyrocketing prices might not be top of mind for many consumers this spring, especially in light of significantly lower gas prices at the pump in early May.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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Their early existence could have then helped in the development of the solar system's planets.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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But the president’s declaration of victory may be premature.—
The Editors,
National Review,
8 May 2025
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New research is supporting this movement, revealing that foods in this category are linked to premature deaths in eight countries.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In a speech Thursday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested rates could be higher in the long term because of unexpected events that constrain supplies and push up prices.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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This was unexpected, as black holes have stronger gravitational fields and were thought to evaporate faster.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The band’s message may have got slightly lost, however, amid their acid-trip screen visuals, military drag, and the climactic near-naked reveals, not to mention the sudden appearance of a rocket-straddling Vladimir Lenin impersonator who looked more like the Smurfs’ arch-nemesis Gargamel.—
Nick Allen,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
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In practical terms, a sudden revocation of a nonprofit’s status would instantly derail PSLF credit for its employees through no fault of their own.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Putting pressure on the opponent This roster appears to be well-built for low-scoring games in April, which can swing on an inopportune error or a heads-up base-running decision.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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The Heat is dealing with injuries to its three best players at a most inopportune time.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Untimely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untimely. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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