as in delayed
not arriving, occurring, or settled at the due, usual, or proper time
a belated birthday card
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Recent Examples of belated
China, meanwhile, is living with the long shadow of its one-child policy, which was eased to a two-child rule in 2016 and then to a three-child policy in 2021 in a belated push to boost births.
—
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Joy speaks at length about growing up in a culturally sophisticated yet oppressive family and holding her artistic temperament in check, before achieving a belated liberation.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Then, at the end of the episode, Slightly pulls Arthur’s body into a ventilation shaft, in what could be a belated act of regret or an attempt to preserve a Xenomorph host body before any other aliens can eat it.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Scrambling to recall a few staff and issue some belated funding is just window dressing.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belated
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Joy speaks at length about growing up in a culturally sophisticated yet oppressive family and holding her artistic temperament in check, before achieving a belated liberation.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Then, at the end of the episode, Slightly pulls Arthur’s body into a ventilation shaft, in what could be a belated act of regret or an attempt to preserve a Xenomorph host body before any other aliens can eat it.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Scrambling to recall a few staff and issue some belated funding is just window dressing.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belated
Adjective
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Republicans narrowly control Congress and the agenda, but with the challenge of locking down enough of their own members after a delayed vote, Democratic votes will likely come into play — and the rare opportunity for leverage as the minority party.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2026
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Greece’s farming sector faces mounting strain, with weeks of protests triggered by delayed subsidy payments tied to the investigation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Learning a lesson, this time Khan moved up from 53 to 47 using a fourth-round pick (135) and a late-round pick swap to land Alabama receiver Germie Bernard.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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As such, there was an STS-113, which launched aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2002, but not before having to make late crew changes due to medical issues.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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When Noble reopened after the pandemic abated, tardy rates soared, staff satisfaction plummeted, and violence on campus, previously rare, spiked.—
Steven F. Wilson,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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Xander Roker and Kirf Olander, San Diegans by way of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively, were tardy to the party, but had no complaints about paying twice face price for the privilege.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As accounts become more delinquent, creditors may become more willing to negotiate, which is often when settlements are reached.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Eight-and-a-half percent were delinquent, but not charged off.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On Friday, officials cast the project as a long-overdue investment on the Far South Side.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Auditors found that inspections for 224 facilities were at least seven months overdue.—
Christine Condon,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belated. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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