LATE Synonyms: 221 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'late' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of late are dead , deceased , defunct , and departed . While all these words mean "devoid of life," late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status. // the company's late president

Q: In what contexts can 'dead' take the place of 'late'?

In some situations, the words dead and late are roughly equivalent. However, dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life. // a dead , listless performance

Q: How is 'deceased' related to other words for 'late'?

Deceased , departed , and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use. // the estate of the deceased

Q: When is 'defunct' a more appropriate choice than 'late'?

The synonyms defunct and late are sometimes interchangeable, but defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation. // a defunct television series

Q: When could 'departed' be used to replace 'late'?

Although the words departed and late have much in common, departed is used usually as a euphemism. // our departed sister

late 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlāt

Definition of late

as in delayed

not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time I ran as fast as I could, but was still late for class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in former

having been such at some previous time the late musical director said he would never have allowed such behavior while he was in charge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fallen

no longer living our late granduncle remembered us in his will

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in advanced

being far along in development late impressionism gave rise to pointillism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

late

2 of 2

adverb

as in later

after the due, usual, or proper time she has a habit of arriving late for everything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lately

not long ago the actress, late of New York but now of Los Angeles, is being eagerly sought for film roles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective late contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of late are dead, deceased, defunct, and departed. While all these words mean "devoid of life," late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

In what contexts can dead take the place of late?

In some situations, the words dead and late are roughly equivalent. However, dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

How is deceased related to other words for late?

Deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

When is defunct a more appropriate choice than late?

The synonyms defunct and late are sometimes interchangeable, but defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

When could departed be used to replace late?

Although the words departed and late have much in common, departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

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 late

Adjective

Results were delayed after late openings forced more than 100 polling stations to extend voting hours Monday. — CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 The results were delayed after late openings forced more than 100 polling stations to extend voting hours Monday. — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Adverb

The company's bond prices sank late last week, while its stock is down roughly 50% year to date. — Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but sapphires—they’re like your way cooler friend who stays out late and can shoot pool with the best of them. — Loren Savini, Allure, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for late

Recent Examples of Synonyms for late

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

Kim Aris, the London son of former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said he was allowed a 20-minute phone call from the Nobel Peace Prize winner detained in her native country and who has not been seen publicly in five years.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Then last month, Kwan appointed former Rwandan Minister of State for Infrastructure Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye as RFO’s principal of emerging markets and business development to drive investment flows between Asia and Africa.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of former

Adjective

By increasing its manufacturing capacity, the company aims to strengthen its ability to deliver advanced systems to customers.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Back the companies willing to take risks The United States needs an advanced manufacturing ecosystem that includes more than behemoths with access to capital markets and giant lines of credit.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of advanced

Adverb

Six days later, Israel held Gaza, the West Bank, Sinai, and the Golan.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
The series opens from the police perspective, but later the story rewinds and is told through the eyes of the robbers and and their hostages inside the bank.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of later

Adverb

That hasn't been the trend lately, as Friday's slide in the stock market coincided with an aggressive sell-off in bonds, a trade largely driven by fears of escalating oil prices hitting both asset classes.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Ashley’s view Concerns about AI and technology have simmered under the surface of American campaign politics for years, but have never been a fully salient everyday issue for voters until lately.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of lately

Adjective

But Merkle, on first base, went to the clubhouse without touching second base, and the Cubs recovered the ball and got a belated force-out at second.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
With the belated realization that the Chinese had indeed overtaken them in the burgeoning electric-vehicle business, the world’s other car-makers descended into doom and gloom.

— Jamie Kitman, Air Mail, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of belated

Adjective

An album-length EP by the 20-year-old producer is a dizzying and boundless collage of collages, using free-jazz logic and digital overload to chart new emotional terrain.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman and supporter of Bolsonaro, said another Lula government would harm the economy.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of old

Cite this Entry

Style

“Late.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/late. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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adverb

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Synonyms of late

adjective

adverb

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Phrases Containing late

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Cite this Entry

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