Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not suitable or convenient for a particular situation; occurring at an inconvenient or inappropriate time. Describes something that happens or is done at a bad time, causing difficulty or awkwardness.

Usage and Examples

• General Use: Used to describe an event, action, remark, or moment that is poorly timed.
  • The phone rang at an inopportune moment during the wedding ceremony.
  • His resignation came at an inopportune time for the company, right before a major product launch.
  • She regretted her inopportune comment as soon as she saw the look on his face.

Advanced Usage

• "inopportune" as a modifier: Often used before nouns like 'time', 'moment', 'occasion', 'visit', or 'remark'.
  • The power outage was highly inopportune for the live broadcast.
• Formal/Descriptive Contexts: Common in written English, formal speech, and descriptive narratives to highlight poor timing.
  • The ambassador's inopportune departure raised many questions among the press.

Variants and Related Words

• Inopportunely (adverb): In an inopportune manner.
  • The alarm sounded inopportunely in the middle of the night.
• Inopportuneness (noun): The quality of being inopportune.
  • The inopportuneness of the interruption was frustrating.

Synonyms

• Ill-timed: Done or occurring at an unsuitable time.
• Untimely: Happening or done at an inappropriate time, especially too soon.
• Unseasonable: Not suitable for the time or occasion.
• Inconvenient: Causing trouble, difficulty, or discomfort.

Antonyms

• Opportune: Done or occurring at a favorable or appropriate time.
• Timely: Done or occurring at a favorable or useful time; well-timed.
• Convenient: Fitting in well with a person's needs, activities, and plans.

Idioms and Phrases

• "At an inopportune moment/juncture": A common phrase emphasizing the unfortunate timing of an event.
  • The financial crisis hit at an inopportune juncture for the new government.
• "Singularly inopportune": An emphatic way to say something is especially badly timed.
  • The news of the merger was singularly inopportune, given the ongoing labor negotiations.

Adjective

1. not opportune
   • arrived at a most inopportune hour
   • an inopportune visit