untimely

adjective

Definition of untimelynext
as in early
occurring before the usual or expected time the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 untimely The 2023 mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner paramilitary company, led not to revolution but to his own untimely death. — Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026 Before her untimely death in 2016, Laurer racked up a series of record-breaking professional accolades. — Tanya Fevzi, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026 The club also got an additional run as Royals outfielder John Rave recorded an untimely fielding error in right field. — Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026 Their deaths, untimely in proximity, have devastated many fans. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for untimely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untimely
  1. early
  2. premature
  3. unexpected
  4. sudden
  5. inopportune
Adjective
  • Precision packed into 33 pounds The satellites use the NEMO spacecraft platform, which has supported 11 earlier GHGSat missions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • And the latest archaeoacoustic techniques show that even the world’s earliest architects understood this.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of early
Adjective
  • Machchhar also described an onboard emergency when a pregnant woman went into premature labor, forcing the crew to divert the plane.
    — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Ashley Randolph Ashley Randolph transformed personal struggles into hope and support for Black families navigating premature births.
    — The Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of premature
Adjective
  • Keep scrolling to shop my favorite unexpected home finds starting at $100.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The decision by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI follows a raft of reports in recent months about AI agents behaving in unexpected ways, evading human guardrails or otherwise going rogue.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of unexpected
Adjective
  • In many such cases, Pennington says, parents will want to give each child an equal inheritance to be fair, but also worry about how the struggling child will fare upon receiving a sudden inheritance.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The account provided directly to Fox News offered a more harrowing description of the sudden descent, with the passenger saying people screamed as overhead compartments opened and power aboard the aircraft went out.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of sudden
Adjective
  • That makes this a particularly inopportune time for the Fed to start asking the market to take on additional supply of mortgages and Treasury notes if the Fed were to reduce the balance sheet.
    — Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Stanford went 5 of 15 on third down and was hampered by a slew of inopportune penalties that Miami capitalized on.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of inopportune

Browse Nearby Words

untimeliness
untimely
untired
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Untimely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untimely. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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