half-baked

adjective

ˈhaf-ˈbākt How to pronounce half-baked (audio)
ˈhäf-
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.
Ultimately, this half-baked strategy for multipolarity may be just as bad as no strategy at all. Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2025 The many creaky, half-baked aspects of Shelby Oaks are all the more frustrating when one remembers the film’s solid start, the specific point of view that gradually gives way to Stuckmann’s plodding recitation of hoary horror-movie staples. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025 Jokes have setups and punchlines; this was merely half-baked political analysis. Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025 If that hasn’t been done, the AI will likely try to generate code, but the results will probably be half-baked and extremely sketchy. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Half-baked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-baked. Accessed 25 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!