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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 In January, Emma and Hedlund took a belated trip with Rhodes to celebrate his fifth birthday. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026 The closer and title track serve as a belated mission statement, at once tonally busy and capaciously arranged, as if to make the frequency spectrum itself a character in the songs. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026 The journey proves a belated act of self-discovery. — John Hopewell, Variety, 17 May 2026 Tonkin marked their first wedding anniversary in a belated Instagram post on Tuesday, May 12. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for belated

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belated

Adjective

In a later video clip posted to his TikTok, Ash could be seen FaceTiming his social media manager, explaining that the group’s paperwork caused the delayed entry.

— Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026
The delayed flight was one of two crises that Haitian officials faced on Thursday with deportees being returned from the United States.

— Gérard Maxineau, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of delayed

Adjective

Kate Whiteman, the woman who first filed a lawsuit against the men, died in late 2025 at age 45 in Australia.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
For instance, the Supreme Court in late October allowed New Hampshire to enforce restrictions on using student identification cards as valid voter IDs.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of late

Adjective

Much of the recent alarm stems from AI labs’ own stress tests—and their, at times, tardy or less-than-fulsome disclosures—in which frontier models are pushed to deceive, break rules, or resist shutdowns.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
This deadline will not be extended, and tardy submissions will not be considered.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of tardy

Adjective

The county’s program allows Clerk Monica Gordon to administer payment plans and waive interest costs for a small group of property owners that owe delinquent taxes.

— Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Bottoms and her husband have a history of delinquent property taxes going back years.

— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of delinquent

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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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of belated

adjective

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