Inopportuneoccurring at an awkward or inconvenient time means happening at the wrong time or not suitable for the moment. It is often used for events, remarksspoken comments or statements, or arrivalstimes when people or things come to a place that come when they are badly timed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌɪnˈɑpɚˌtuːn/
Easy pronunciation: in-ah-pər-TOON (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the last syllable: toon. Secondary stress falls on the first syllable.
Adjective meaning badly timed or happening at an unsuitable moment.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Inopportune Meaning
badly timed; not suitable for the moment
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: happening at an inconvenient or unsuitable time
Example: He made an inopportune comment during the meeting.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- untimely — Works well when something happens at the wrong time.
- ill-timed — A direct, natural substitute for something that happens at a bad moment.
- inconvenient — Can fit some uses, especially for visits or events, but is slightly broader.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Inopportune Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- untimely
- ill-timed
- inconvenient
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use inopportune to mean 'unnecessary,' but it specifically means badly timed or unsuitable.
- It is not the same as opportunistic, which means taking advantage of a chance.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does inopportune mean?
Inopportune means happening at the wrong time or in a situation where it is not suitable.
What are some synonyms for inopportune?
Good synonyms include untimely and ill-timed. In some contexts, inconvenient can also work.
Is inopportune a positive word?
No. It usually has a negative meaning because it describes something badly timed or inconvenient.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.