inopportune
/ɪnˈɒpətjuːn
/ /ˌɪnɒpəˈtjuːn /adjective
Occurring at an inconvenient or inappropriate time: a storm blew up at an inopportune moment...
- Firstly, it always happens at the most inopportune moments, and secondly, it's generally about a subject you haven't got a clue about.
- What next - will we be banned from taking any photograph in any public place just in case a minor happens to walk in front of the lens at an inopportune moment?!
- When the initial shock wore off I think we all felt a bit cheated that such a huge bombshell should be dropped at such an inopportune moment.
Synonyms
inconvenient, untimely, ill-timed, badly timed, mistimed, inappropriate, unsuitable, inapt, ill-chosen, infelicitous, unfavourable, unfortunate, unpropitious, inauspicious, inexpedient, disadvantageous;
awkward, difficult, troublesome, bothersome, problematic, disruptive, disturbing
archaic unseasonable
Derivatives
inopportunely
/ /ˌɪnɒpəˈtjuːnli / adverb ...- And if you stopped waggling your hips in that inopportunely distracting manner, perhaps Derrick could concentrate on something other than sex for a mere five minutes.
- If they have lost their quasi-central bank status, there are momentous ramifications that will become inopportunely relevant during the next unfolding liquidity/financial crisis.
- Relief came at last in March: ironically, the first rains arrived inopportunely at grape harvest time in South Australia and Victoria.
inopportuneness
/ /ˌɪnɒpəˈtjuːnnəs / noun ...- It perplexed, as well as shocked her, by the irreverent inopportuneness of the occasions that brought it into vivid action.
- When the sad news reached Rome, not only was the loss of the man severely felt, but also the inopportuneness of the time when it occurred.
Origin
Early 16th century: from Latin inopportunus, from in- 'not' + opportunus (see opportune).
importune from mid 16th century:
Portunus, the name of the god who protected harbours (from portus ‘harbour’), lies behind this word. A lack of the safety and calm associated with his protection is found in this word and in inopportune ‘troublesome, bringing problems’.