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

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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

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)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All