Definitions

unpunctual

[uhn-puhngk-choo-uhl] / ˌʌnˈpʌŋk tʃu əl /

ADJECTIVE

belated

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delayed long-delayed overdue tardy

WEAK

behind time behindhand remiss

Antonyms

STRONGEST

early

WEAK

on time punctual timely

ADJECTIVE

irregular

Synonyms

STRONGEST

capricious erratic intermittent jerky sporadic uneven unreliable

STRONG

aberrant eccentric faltering shifting weaving

WEAK

aimless casual changeable designless desultory disconnected discontinuous fitful fluctuating fragmentary haphazard hit-or-miss inconstant indiscriminate infrequent nonuniform occasional out of order patchy purposeless recurrent shaky spasmodic uncertain unconsidered unmethodical unsettled unsteady unsystematic up and down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

constant continuous dependable regular reliable smooth steady

STRONG

normal

WEAK

common conventional even flat level methodical standard systematic usual

ADJECTIVE

late

Synonyms

STRONGEST

last-minute slow

WEAK

backward behind behind time behindhand belated blown delayed dilatory eleventh hour gone held up hung up in a bind in the lurch jammed lagging missed the boat out of luck overdue postponed put off remiss stayed strapped tardy too late

Antonyms

WEAK

antique early live old old-fashioned on time prompt punctual

ADJECTIVE

overdue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belated delinquent outstanding tardy unpaid

WEAK

behind time behindhand due held up hung up jammed long-delayed mature not punctual owing payable unsettled

Antonyms

STRONGEST

early on time paid punctual settled

ADJECTIVE

slow

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dull gradual low moderate sluggish stagnant stiff tame tedious time-consuming

STRONG

delayed detained down hindered impeded lingering off prolonged protracted reduced slack

WEAK

backward behindhand belated conservative dead dilatory draggy inactive long-delayed long-drawn-out overdue sleepy tardy uneventful unproductive unprogressive

Antonyms

STRONGEST

active bright exciting interesting lively violent wild

WEAK

busy cognizant hurried intelligent on cue on time quick rapid ready smart waiting

ADJECTIVE

tardy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belated delayed delinquent overdue sluggish

WEAK

backward behindhand dawdling detained dilatory held up hung up in a bind jammed laggard loitering not arrived not done procrastinating slack slow strapped for time too late

Antonyms

STRONGEST

early

WEAK

on time prompt punctual ready

ADVERB

late

Synonyms

STRONGEST

slowly

STRONG

belatedly tardily

WEAK

backward behind behind time behindhand dilatorily

Antonyms

WEAK

early on time punctually

ADVERB

tardily

Synonyms

STRONG

belatedly slowly

WEAK

backward behind behind time behindhand dilatorily

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mr. Biden’s championing of the science post and its unpunctual start have raised a number of questions: What do White House science advisers actually do?

From New York Times • Apr. 29, 2021

I came to think that, were O’Brien given a choice between a punctual guest and a mortified, unpunctual one, she would opt for the latter.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 7, 2019

Guardian is routinely unpunctual and speaks off the cuff with enough dash that Chris Filiciello, his chief of staff, usually sticks close to keep watch.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 7, 2015

And so the Fiver became a brittle, snide, self-defeating unpunctual football email that failed to be funny.

From The Guardian • Sep. 29, 2010

Nimue, though scatterbrained and unpunctual, was a good girl in her way.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

unpunctual

Example Sentences

Related Words