Synonyms of tardy

tardy

adjective

ˈtär-dē 

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

• leisurely
• slow
• dilatory
• lagging
• creeping
• laggard
• dragging
• dillydallying
• sluggish
• dallying
• crawling
• unhurried
• poky
• slowing
• dawdling
• snaillike
• languid
• poking
• snail-paced
• lethargic
• deliberate
• lingering
• inactive
• loitering
• loafing
• ambling
• inert
• lounging
• plodding
• tarrying
• procrastinating
• measured
• shuffling
• heavy-footed
• decelerating
• slow-footed
• stalling
• strolling
• inching
• filibustering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rapid
• speedy
• hasty
• swift
• rushing
• brisk
• quick
• lightning
• speeding
• breathless
• fast
• meteoric
• running
• fleet
• expeditious
• prompt
• dizzy
• flying
• ready
• whirlwind
• snappy
• rocketing
• racing
• bolting
• hurrying
• warp-speed
• breakneck
• scurrying
• scudding
• whirling
• accelerated
• barreling
• scooting
• careering
• zipping
• whisking
• rushed
• hurried
• hastened
• quickened

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

• delayed
• late
• delinquent
• belated
• behind
• overdue
• slow
• behindhand
• latish
• dilatory
• postponed
• lagging
• detained
• laggard
• dragging
• sluggish
• poky
• unhurried
• dillydallying
• dawdling
• dallying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• early
• premature
• untimely
• precocious
• timely
• inopportune
• opportune
• unseasonable
• prompt
• seasonable
• punctual

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tardy

Machado, who was shifted over and essentially playing in the shortstop position, fielded the ball and diverted his route to go put a tag on Hoerner before making a tardy throw to first base. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2026

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the 5-4 majority, wrote that federal election statutes -- which say nothing about ballot receipt -- do not override states' ability to set their own policies for handling tardy votes by mail. — Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 June 2026

During one confessional, the model gave Zverev grief for always being tardy. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026

And the chronically tardy Giannis Antetokounmpo leaks his desire to be traded to ESPN, while maintaining plausible deniability. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 May 2026