maladaptive

mal·adap·tive | \ ˌma-lə-ˈdap-tiv

How to pronounce maladaptive (audio)

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Definition of maladaptive

1 : marked by poor or inadequate adaptation

2 : not conducive to adaptation

Examples of maladaptive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But in the case of the allergy patients, that memory apparently becomes maladaptive. — Quanta Magazine, "Stem Cells Remember Tissues’ Past Injuries," 12 Nov. 2018 By definition, [personality disorders] represent maladaptive variance of normative personality functioning. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "What Mental Health Experts Want You to Know Before Watching the Buzzy New YouTube Series ‘The Mind of Jake Paul’," 12 Oct. 2018 Complicated grief can be defined as a more persistent form of intense grief in which maladaptive thoughts and dysfunctional behaviors emerge, along with continued yearning and sadness or preoccupation with thoughts of the person who died. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN, "A name for grief that goes on and on," 16 May 2018 The other interesting finding was a link between the use the maladaptive coping and the probability that a runner would finish the race. — Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, "Why It Matters How You Think About Pain," 10 Apr. 2018 These maladaptive neurological changes can persist long after the alcohol use stops. — Jamie Smolen, chicagotribune.com, "How to know when holiday drinking is hurting your brain," 23 Dec. 2017 These behaviors are believed to be maladaptive mechanisms for dealing with the psychological suffering that comes from isolation. — Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine, "Solitary Confinement Is a Great American Shame," 10 Feb. 2017 What looks to us like a maladaptive state might be the best of many bad options. — National Geographic, "Why Crested Penguins Always Lay Doomed Eggs," 4 Oct. 2016 What looks to us like a maladaptive state might be the best of many bad options. — National Geographic, "Why Crested Penguins Always Lay Doomed Eggs," 4 Oct. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maladaptive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Maladaptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maladaptive. Accessed 22 Feb. 2020.

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