INOPPORTUNE Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

inopportune

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˌä-pər-ˈtün

Definition of inopportune

as in unexpected

occurring before the usual or expected time their inopportune arrival before the house was cleaned

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 inopportune Knowing how to recognize the signs that your water heater is nearing the end of its lifespan can save you from an inconvenient breakdown (or worse, water damage) at an inopportune moment. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026 The accusation comes at an inopportune time, when Microsoft is trying to optimize Windows 11 for 8GB of RAM and PC makers are developing less expensive hardware to compete with Apple’s MacBook Neo. — Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies are in the final days before the MLB trade deadline searching for answers to an offense that has stalled at an inopportune time. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 American fans will rue the fact that such a feel-good story ended in embarrassment on and off the field as a US president who loves the spotlight seized it at an inopportune time and then a promising team crashed out in the worst way possible. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for inopportune

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inopportune

Adjective

Stubborn inflation, blowback from White House trade policies, and a formidable Democratic challenger in megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton have combined to turn ruby-red Kansas into an unexpected Senate battleground.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Mandatory statewide caps on property taxes would tie the hands of local governments to deal with the rapid growth and address unexpected emergencies.

— Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of unexpected

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

There’s a fascinating synchronicity between the current real-world anxiety and the film industry’s sudden interest in dense studies of the tech world’s dark underbelly.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Other symptoms include sudden high fever and chills, headaches, and pain in the abdomen, legs and arms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sudden

Adjective

A lot has happened since Garnet Hills started business, including the untimely death of the founder couple in a 1985 plane crash and the sale of the family business to live shopping company QVC Group in 2017.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Quavo sat down with Complex’s Idea Generation and talked about how Takeoff’s untimely death helped mend his fractured relationship with their childhood friend and fellow Migos groupmate.

— Angel Diaz, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of untimely

Adjective

The rookie’s performance called to mind what linebackers coach Frank Bush had said last week about his precocious pupil.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Eddie saw a fiery, competitive streak in his younger brother at a precocious age.

— Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of precocious

Browse Nearby Words

inoperative

inopportune

inopportunely

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Inopportune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inopportune. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of inopportune

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Luddite

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes