Definitions

untimely

[uhn-tahym-lee] / ʌnˈtaɪm li /

ADJECTIVE

inappropriate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ill-timed improper premature undue unfortunate

WEAK

a bit previous abortive anachronistic awkward badly timed bright and early disagreeable early early bird early on inauspicious inconvenient inexpedient inopportune intrusive malapropos mistimed out-of-date overearly oversoon previous soon too early too late unfavorable unfit unlucky unpropitious unseasonable unseemly unsuitable unsuited wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

appropriate good suitable

WEAK

opportune timely

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The past week has been Cleveland’s untimely introduction to their new star’s Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

No one else could have done what Prince did for as long as Prince did it, and the untimely departure of His Royal Badness left behind no heirs.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

No player in Europe comes close to matching Harry Kane's goalscoring record this season – but could an untimely ankle problem scupper his Ballon d'Or chances?

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Plus, Apple’s autocorrect fix, Sora’s untimely demise, Nvidia’s iron grip on the AI industry and the 10-year feud shaping AI’s future.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Finding his buddy’s name would be a chance to be with Stamey again in spirit, and to mourn his untimely death.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Vocabulary lists containing untimely

Romeo and Juliet

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"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)

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The Tragedy of Macbeth

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