last-minute
Right before deadline
Last-minute describes something done or occurring at the latest possible time before a deadline: last-minute changes to the contract, a last-minute decision.
The term often implies urgency, poor planning, or a narrow escape from missing an opportunity: We made a last-minute dash for the train.
As an adverb, at the last minute works the same way: She canceled at the last minute.
At the latest possible moment
- crunchCrushing, grinding noise
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- rushQuick sudden movement
- scrambleMix into disorder
countdown · cutoff · pressing · critical · emergency · crisis · desperate · imminent
Without advance preparation
- ad-hocFor a specific purpose
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- thrown-togetherAssembled hastily, without care
- cobbled-togetherAssembled from random parts
on-the-fly · winging-it · unplanned · unrehearsed · off-the-cuff · stopgap · jury-rigged · scratch-built
Quick sudden movement
- scrambleMix into disorder
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- dashQuick burst or pinch
- raceCompetition of speed
sprint · hurry · frenzy · whirlwind · frantic · hectic · breakneck · chaotic
Done without advance planning
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
- snap-decisionHasty judgment made instantly
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
sudden · unexpected · surprise · serendipitous · off-the-cuff · walk-in
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- tensionStretched or strained state
- strainExcessive stretching force
nervousness · pressure · frazzled · cramming · all-nighter · exhaustion · burnout · desperation
eleventh-hour
At the latest possible moment
scramble · countdown · cutoff · pressing · critical · emergency · crisis · desperate · imminent · dire
impromptu
Without advance preparation
- ad-hocFor a specific purpose
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- thrown-togetherAssembled hastily, without care
cobbled-together · on-the-fly · winging-it · unplanned · unrehearsed · off-the-cuff · stopgap · jury-rigged · scratch-built · backup
rush
Quick sudden movement
race · sprint · hurry · frenzy · whirlwind · frantic · hectic · breakneck · chaotic · panicked
spur-of-the-moment
Done without advance planning
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
- snap-decisionHasty judgment made instantly
unplanned · sudden · unexpected · surprise · serendipitous · off-the-cuff · walk-in
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
strain · nervousness · pressure · frazzled · cramming · all-nighter · exhaustion · burnout · desperation · sweating
- unreadyunprepared, ill-prepared, ill-equipped, unready, not ready
- hyphenated wordsup-to-date, pitch-black, jaw-dropping, round-the-clock, air-conditioned
- time pressurerush, against the clock, rushed, clock is ticking, urgency
- urgencyurgent, urgently, emergency, ASAP, stat
- being rushedhurrying, rushing, running late, scrambling, hustling
- procrastinationdelay, avoidance, postponement, deferral, stalling
last-minuteearly
Occurring before expected
ahead of time · in advance · advance · beforehand · premature
last-minuteplanned
Decided on beforehand
well-planned · premeditated · preplanned · deliberate · methodical
last, minute, lasting, minutes, lastly, minutely, minuteness