BELATED Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

belated

adjective

bi-ˈlā-təd

Definition of belated

as in delayed

not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time a belated birthday card

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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 belated Seattle receiver Golden Tate, after pushing off on the Packers’ Sam Shields (no flag was thrown, naturally), had made what seemed like a belated reach and put a single arm on the ball as Jennings fell to the ground. — Michael Silver, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026 Middleton's visit to Leicester served as a belated celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival, which took place on Wednesday, March 4. — Emma Banks, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026 That’s true historically — Netflix ran a 10K on streaming before Disney could lace up its sneakers, prompting a mad belated frenzy from the Burbank firm to get its own service up and running more than a decade later, in 2019. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025 China, meanwhile, is living with the long shadow of its one-child policy, which was eased to a two-child rule in 2016 and then to a three-child policy in 2021 in a belated push to boost births. — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for belated

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belated

Adjective

The Real Problem Is The Ripple A delayed flight is easy to detect.

— Ishraq Khan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
In that trial, rings of contacts of cases, as well as contacts of the contacts, were randomized to either get the vaccine immediately or on a delayed basis.

— Helen Branswell, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of delayed

Adjective

Foreman said Florida's late-summer primary date can make generating voter enthusiasm particularly challenging.

— Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
The deal is Nvidia's latest in a string of financing maneuvers to support the sprawling AI data center buildout, despite concerns over circular financing in the AI trade.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of late

Adjective

Pulitzer-Prize finalist Daniel Mason molds his new novel around Miles Krzelewski, married to a Stanford academic superstar, twelve years tardy on his dissertation.

— Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
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

Definition of tardy

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belabors

belated

belatedly

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“Belated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belated. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of belated

adjective

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