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

At the time, Fergie and Duhamel had already decided on his middle name, Jack, after Fergie’s late uncle, who had died the year prior. — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 He was designated for assignment by the Mets in late April and played 16 games for Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk before being released on June 12. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Adverb

By shopping so late for key players, both coaches will have to embed any new signings while the season is underway. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The storms are unlikely to reach the Kansas City forecast area, though there is a 10% to 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. — Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for late

Recent Examples of Synonyms for late

Adjective

After Tuesday’s practice, Purdy detailed how a delayed throw to Luke Farrell got intercepted by linebacker Del-Shawn Phillips off near the goal line.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
The Real Problem Is The Ripple A delayed flight is easy to detect.

— Ishraq Khan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of delayed

Adjective

Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, attributes the root cause to sluggish economic growth.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Per the settlement, former director Patty Hector, who was fired by the county's chief executive following a dispute over censorship, will receive $225,000.

— Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of former

Adjective

In the eight-episode Robocop series, written by Ocko, a giant tech conglomerate pursuades the city to place a powerful robot on its police force – a robot implanted with the consciousness of a beloved fallen officer, Alex Murphy (Stevens).

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Israel erected a monument to the fallen Altalena militants in 2008 on the Tel Aviv seafront and has been searching for the wreckage for years, with crews often working in secrecy.

— CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of fallen

Adjective

Goldman expects China’s advanced-node wafer supply to reach 410,000 wafers per month by 2035, compared with monthly demand of 619,000 wafers.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
The display was set up by police, with authorities saying some of the bodies recovered from the floods were in an advanced state of decomposition, making physical identification difficult.

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of advanced

Adverb

The film from writer-director Elle Sofe Sara will get a theatrical release in early 2027 before launching on digital platforms later next year.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
With Yeager ineligible for election to retain his seat and Saunders stepping down to retire at the end of this term later this year, neither will be on the council long-term going forward.

— James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of later

Adjective

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
Councilman Izzy Patoka alluded to the financial hole that the county dug for itself by its belated adoption of development impact fees and excise taxes in 2019.

— David Plymyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of belated

Adjective

Nuclear Children follows 18-year-old Isla Sparrow who, after the death of her father in a submarine accident, hopes to escape her grieving family and flee to university.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
But in older adults, the relationship between body weight and health may be more complicated than a number on the scale.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of old

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Style

“Late.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/late. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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adverb

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Synonyms of late

adjective

adverb

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Example Sentences

Phrases Containing late

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

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