inopportune

adjective

in·​op·​por·​tune (ˌ)in-ˌä-pər-ˈtün How to pronounce inopportune (audio)
-ˈtyün
inopportunely adverb
inopportuneness noun

Examples of inopportune in a Sentence

He always shows up at the most inopportune times. an inopportune sale of stocks
Recent Examples on the Web Any charges, if filed, would likely come at a politically inopportune time for Trump, who leads the pack of contenders in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Time, 7 June 2023 And the latest revelations came at a particularly inopportune time for the government: Section 702 is set to expire on December 31 unless Congress reauthorizes it. Adam I. Klein, National Review, 15 Mar. 2023 Since season 1, viewers have seen the partners' bond grow — both in and out of conflict — and Stabler may have confessed his love for Benson during a rather inopportune moment back in 2021. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2022 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 Allowing one back-breaker at an inopportune time, maybe even two, is defensible. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 29 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inopportune.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin inopportunus, from in- + opportunus opportune

First Known Use

circa 1507, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inopportune was circa 1507

Dictionary Entries Near inopportune

Cite this Entry

“Inopportune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inopportune. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inopportune

adjective
in·​op·​por·​tune (ˌ)in-ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ün How to pronounce inopportune (audio)
: inconvenient
an inopportune time
inopportunely adverb

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