1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
the conversation was somewhat stilted as we didn't seem to share any interests
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
a stilted letter of apology that was written and accepted with equal measures of insincerity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stilted
After the singing the men lapsed into a stilted small talk again.
—
Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Interviewing public figures can be a very stilted experience.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Don’t Worry Darling, by contrast, felt too stilted and controlled, too programmed and predictable, almost as if the director felt obligated to rein in her stylistic impulses against a supposedly more complicated story.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2026
The entry-level category lagoon studio suite starts at a generous 788 square-feet of indoor space, coupled with a 1,016-square-foot private patio with a heated plunge pool; for a bit more space, including a generous separate living room, book a stilted room that rests over the water.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stilted
Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Interviewing public figures can be a very stilted experience.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Don’t Worry Darling, by contrast, felt too stilted and controlled, too programmed and predictable, almost as if the director felt obligated to rein in her stylistic impulses against a supposedly more complicated story.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2026
The entry-level category lagoon studio suite starts at a generous 788 square-feet of indoor space, coupled with a 1,016-square-foot private patio with a heated plunge pool; for a bit more space, including a generous separate living room, book a stilted room that rests over the water.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stilted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stilted
Adjective
-
Still, the atmosphere was uncomfortable enough that Habermas left the institute a year later, to write his Habilitation, or second dissertation, a requirement for qualifying as a professor in German universities.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Don’t suffer through summer in uncomfortable shoes.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Adebimpe released his first formal solo album, Thee Black Boltz, via Sub Pop last year.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
17 June 2026
-
The 8,688-square-foot Colonial Revival has nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, eight fireplaces, Flemish bond brickwork, slate roofing and formal gardens.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The awkward situation that Thiago is talking about involves receiving the ball with his back to a player who is closing him down at speed from behind.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Almost nine years after their awkward handshake at the 2017 Bastille Day military parade, the two men politely shook hands and expressed their affinity for each other.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
The rooms with bunk beds and lodges are especially nice for spreading out a bit, and are a quick walk from the main building hosting the restaurant and a beautiful library/lounge on the upper floor (yet another great Northern Lights spot).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
But just something would have been nice.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The historic victory, the nation’s first ever in the World Cup, was overshadowed when the midfielder injured his leg in gruesome fashion following a clumsy challenge from Qatar’s Assim Madibo.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Better systems beat willpower as clumsy Chiron enters your 6th House of Work and Health, reminding you that mistakes teach faster than shame.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is a lovely, if rather decorous and reverent, tale of an illicit affair that’s unlikely to cause as much noise as Dhont’s last two films.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
-
But such disagreements tended to be handled with the decorous language of diplomacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These memories of his brief, sad human life are uneasy dreams that Lestat wakes from on his tour bus as the sun sets over the road to Toledo.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
On top of the tense, uneasy dynamic created by the duo’s pairing, the series is wrapped in a twisty web of peripheral problems.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The ones named Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion by the judges make a ceremonious visit at the end of the day to the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stilted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stilted. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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