as in unexpected
occurring before the usual or expected time
their inopportune arrival before the house was cleaned
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inopportune
The trouble is that Congress and the president are willing to consider its passage only during maximally inopportune moments like the present.
—
Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 10 Oct. 2022
Roope Hintz’s recent upper-body injury came at an inopportune time.
—Peter Warren, Dallas News, 31 Jan. 2023
Democrats publicly and privately conceded that the stunning development was at best an unwelcome distraction at an inopportune time that muddies the case against Donald Trump.
—Steve Peoples, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Jan. 2023
From a strictly business perspective, CNN boss Jeff Zucker’s sudden departure Wednesday could not have come at a more inopportune time.
—Vulture, 3 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for inopportune
Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 10 Oct. 2022
Roope Hintz’s recent upper-body injury came at an inopportune time.
—Peter Warren, Dallas News, 31 Jan. 2023
Democrats publicly and privately conceded that the stunning development was at best an unwelcome distraction at an inopportune time that muddies the case against Donald Trump.
—Steve Peoples, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Jan. 2023
From a strictly business perspective, CNN boss Jeff Zucker’s sudden departure Wednesday could not have come at a more inopportune time.
—Vulture, 3 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for inopportune
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inopportune
Adjective
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JuJu Watkins is receiving love from unexpected places.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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In 2002, Amazon required every executive to master an unexpected skill: writing press releases for products that didn’t yet exist.—
Daniel Lotzof,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Mahdi's earliest memory was his father slamming his mother through a glass table and later lying to his son and saying his mother was dead.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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Colossal said two of the dire wolves were born late last year, while the third arrived in early 2025.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Transportation is America’s largest sources of harmful air pollution and vehicle tailpipe emissions are tied to higher rates of asthma and premature death.—
Margo T. Oge,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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First described by Yale psychologist Irving Janis in 1972, groupthink leads to premature decisions, often bad ones, spurred by conformity within groups where any one person feels that disagreement is impossible.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Don’t be surprised if your insights come through unconventional means — like a sudden dream, a deep gut feeling or even a meaningful synchronicity that guides you toward a new direction.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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While the stock market recovered over the next two years, the sudden crash prompted the New York Stock Exchange to introduce circuit breakers—temporary halts in trading intended to calm markets and prevent panic selling—which kick in when stock prices fall too sharply, too fast.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story on Meredith Gaudreau’s announcement of the birth of her and Johnny Gaudreau’s third baby, months after his untimely death.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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The wedding came nearly a decade after Charles’ divorce from Diana and her untimely death.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Based on the popular comic strip by cartoonist Hank Ketcham, who modeled the titular character after his own son, Dennis the Menace chronicled the exploits of the precocious Dennis Mitchell (North).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Another is his relationship with Bueckers, irascible old guy vs. precocious young woman, like a 1960s sitcom nearing its last episode.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inopportune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inopportune. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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