inopportune

Inopportune means inappropriate, unfavorable, or unsuitable for a particular situation or occasion.

It can also mean coming at the wrong time. The terms untimely and poorly-timed mean the same thing.

Inopportune is especially used in the phrases inopportune moment and inopportune time, meaning the moment that’s least suitable or favorable (for something to happen or be done).

Inopportune is the opposite is opportune, which means appropriate, favorable, or suitable for a particular situation or occasion. It can also mean coming at the right time—timely or well-timed.

Example: The audit was very inopportune—it came at the worst possible time.

The first records of the word inopportune come from around 1530. It comes from the Latin inopportūnus. Opportune is first recorded earlier, around 1400, and comes from the Latin opportūnus, meaning “convenient.” The port in opportūnus referred to a seaport—the word originally meant “coming to the harbor and obtaining timely protection.” The prefix in- means “not.”

The word opportunity is based on the same root. The best opportunities come at an opportune time—the time when they can be taken advantage of. An inopportune time is one that’s inconvenient. Inopportunity is a word—it refers to the state or quality of being inopportune, as in I can’t believe the inopportunity of your unannounced visit—can’t you see I already have company?

What are some other forms related to inopportune?

• inopportunely (adverb)
• inopportuneness (noun)
• inopportunity (noun)
• opportune (adjective)

What are some synonyms for inopportune?

• unsuitable
• inappropriate
• inconvenient
• untimely
• poorly-timed
• inauspicious
• unfortunate

What are some words that share a root or word element with inopportune? 

• opportunity
• opportunistic
• opportunism
• port

What are some words that often get used in discussing inopportune?

• time
• moment
• bad
• worst
• possible
• timing
• occasion
• situation

Inopportune is especially used to describe the word time or moment to indicate that it is the worst possible time for something to happen.

Nobody:

My bladder at the most inopportune time: yea you need to empty me

— Big Nas X (@lukeyism) November 19, 2020

If somebody asked me what is my worst habit I would definitely say : laughing at inopportune moments

— ◾jam dark me pak ness (@NNAASSAA2) November 15, 2020

My awkward life: looking up at completely inopportune times and making awkward eye contact with the same person each time. #ohheyhi #awk

— wisconsin is the florida of the north (@_Kalls) December 9, 2013

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for inopportune? 

A. inconvenient
B. perfect
C. unfortunate
D. inappropriate