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Some common antonyms of punctual are tardy, delayed, overdue, and late. The word punctual indicates the quality of being on time, consistently meeting or arriving at appointments, schedules, or deadlines promptly. Let us understand its meaning, origin, antonyms, and its usage with examples in the article blog below.
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Origin of Punctual
The word punctual is derived from the Latin word ” punctualis” which signifies “the idea of being on point or on time”.
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11+ Opposites of Punctual
Let’s take a look at the following opposites of punctual to expand your understanding of the word:
- Tardy
- Late
- Delayed
- Behind schedule
- Belated
- Behind time
- Unpunctual
- Slow
- Dilatory
- Off-schedule
- Laggard
- Detained
- Overdue
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Antonyms of Punctual: Examples With Usage
The term punctual is often subjective and can vary depending on the context and perspective of the speaker.
Let us understand the following examples of using the antonyms of punctual in a sentence:
- Tardy: He was tardy to work.
- Late: I got late for the meeting.
- Delayed: She delayed the meeting for an hour.
- Behind schedule: I am running behind schedule to complete my work.
- Belated: He wished him belated birthday wishes to him.
- Behind time: The team has to fasten their belts as they are running behind time.
- Unpunctual: Being unpunctual has a bad effect on one’s personality.
- Slow: He is very slow, like a tortoise.
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Main Antonyms of Punctual with Meanings
Antonyms are words that have the opposite meaning. Below are the most common antonyms of “punctual” with simple explanations.
| Antonym | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Late | Arriving or happening after the expected time | He was late for the meeting |
| Tardy | Delayed or slow in arriving | The students were marked tardy. |
| Delayed | Occurring later than planned | The flight was delayed due to rain |
| Behind schedule | Not following the planned timing | The project is behind schedule. |
| Slow | Taking more time than expected | He is slow in completing tasks. |
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Antonyms of Punctual Quiz
1. Select the most appropriate antonym for the word punctual.
A Swift
B Speedy
C Prompt
D Delayed
Answer: Delayed
2. Which word is not the opposite of the word punctual?
A Slow
B Laggard
C Overdue
D Swift
Answer: Swift
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The word punctual means being on time, and its common antonyms include late, tardy, delayed, unpunctual, and behind schedule. Learning these opposites can help students improve their vocabulary, writing, and communication skills. By practising these words in daily conversations and exercises, you can easily remember their meanings and use them correctly.
FAQs
The most common opposite of punctual is late.
Yes, tardy means delayed or late, so it is an antonym of punctual.
Yes, unpunctual is a correct English word meaning not on time.
The word late is the most commonly used antonym in everyday English.
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This was all about the antonym of “punctual”, meaning and examples. Hope you understand the term punctual and its usage. For more such blogs, follow Leverage Edu.
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