half-baked

adjective

ˈhaf-ˈbākt How to pronounce half-baked (audio)
ˈhäf-
Synonyms of half-bakednext
1
a
: poorly developed or carried out
a half-baked idea
half-baked research
b
: lacking adequate planning or forethought
a half-baked scheme for getting rich
c
: lacking in judgment, intelligence, or common sense
2
: imperfectly baked : underdone

Examples of half-baked in a Sentence

he's always got some half-baked "solution" to a difficult, complex problem
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Such potent clarity courses beneath the action of Palestine 36, sometimes rising to the surface in straightforward dialogue as characters grapple with half-baked rationalizations and arbitrary policies. Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025 Even if the products such as the agent mode in Perplexity and Atlas feel half-baked, the hope is that getting into the market early will collect more data than their competitors. Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 13 Nov. 2025 Ultimately, this half-baked strategy for multipolarity may be just as bad as no strategy at all. Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2025 Jokes have setups and punchlines; this was merely half-baked political analysis. Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for half-baked

Word History

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of half-baked was in 1621

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Cite this Entry

“Half-baked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-baked. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

half-baked

adjective
-ˈbākt
1
a
: poorly developed or carried out
a half-baked plan
b
: lacking in judgment or common sense
half-baked ideas
2
: imperfectly baked : underdone
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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