as in improperly
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Recent Examples of imperfectly
People seated together in worship, imperfectly aligned but present.
—
Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Considering the speed at which TV shows are often made, the sound may have been mixed hastily and imperfectly.
—Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Introduced in the first episode, the chance meeting between Dean and Rory lined up imperfectly with Rory’s acceptance to the prestigious prep school Chilton.
—Justin Kirkland, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
There was something undeniably valiant about the way the first one tried, however imperfectly, to bend that long Mouse House tradition of human-acting animals into a means for an examination of racial bias.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
Because of the harsh desert conditions, mesquite grows slowly, and imperfectly, which results in spectacular grain and character.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Certain men who look a certain way and have a certain pedigree can behave imperfectly, to say the least, and still be confirmed into a position of power that has long-reaching consequences.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
In productions large or small — or, here, imperfectly in-between, though still glorious — everything is the service of the show that creates with words, music and movement a grand American tapestry — tears and all.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Godwin is a prime representative of how, for many 2026 Stagecoach performers, success represents an imperfectly perfect full-circle moment.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Philip Martin, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Considering the speed at which TV shows are often made, the sound may have been mixed hastily and imperfectly.
—Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
Introduced in the first episode, the chance meeting between Dean and Rory lined up imperfectly with Rory’s acceptance to the prestigious prep school Chilton.
—Justin Kirkland, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
There was something undeniably valiant about the way the first one tried, however imperfectly, to bend that long Mouse House tradition of human-acting animals into a means for an examination of racial bias.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025
Because of the harsh desert conditions, mesquite grows slowly, and imperfectly, which results in spectacular grain and character.
—Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Certain men who look a certain way and have a certain pedigree can behave imperfectly, to say the least, and still be confirmed into a position of power that has long-reaching consequences.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
In productions large or small — or, here, imperfectly in-between, though still glorious — everything is the service of the show that creates with words, music and movement a grand American tapestry — tears and all.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Godwin is a prime representative of how, for many 2026 Stagecoach performers, success represents an imperfectly perfect full-circle moment.
—Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperfectly
Adverb
-
Byard studies a smartphone showing his year-old wishes for a new coach, those expressed to a reporter late last season, including disappointment that far too many missteps had been improperly dealt with.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Martinez's attorney sought a hearing to determine whether federal authorities improperly destroyed evidence in the cranial case against her by allowing the SUV to be taken back to Maine.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The attorney general's office also said, because the district did not show how the plaintiffs could only inadequately represent them, intervention of right was not an available option, and that intervention would unnecessarily prolong the case.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Jan. 2026
-
The titular role highlighted her distinctive looks and personality including long blonde hair and an attitude sometimes inadequately described as pouty.—
IndieWire Staff,
IndieWire,
28 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Well, even though air-drying clothes on a drying rack has many benefits (especially for the planet), experts agree that line-drying incorrectly can start a big mold problem within and behind your walls.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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The last major round of protests came in 2022, spurred by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the theocratic government's forces for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
That delay could keep medically needy children who have been wrongly diagnosed with child abuse with their parents in the long run.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Fair Housing of Connecticut LLC filed suit against Stonington two days before New Year’s, saying the town wrongly rejected its bid to put up 83 townhouses under the 8-30g rules.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
And huge doses of vitamin C (once erroneously thought to stave off colds) can stomach upset, diarrhoea and, in extreme cases, kidney stones.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
2 Jan. 2026
-
That website erroneously shows the department spent $304,920.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
12 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
For example, Apple briefly turned off an AI feature that rewrote push notifications from news apps inaccurately (it’s since been turned back on by default).—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
17 Dec. 2025
-
For example, pro-Trump chatbots inaccurately attributed job growth solely to his administration, overlooking economic continuity from the Obama era.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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According to a New Mexico warrant obtained and reviewed by EW, Busfield has been accused by a pair of twin actors of inappropriately touching them while on the set of the Fox crime drama The Cleaning Lady.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
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Whatever the truth of that claim, the phrase is inappropriately taken from a poem that is about a horror that cannot be compared to taxation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Those who have recently fallen into homelessness and, with temporary support, have the greatest chance of achieving self-sufficiency are typically deemed insufficiently vulnerable.—
Christopher Calton,
Oc Register,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Hollis was curious and nosy enough to have learned of Anders’s plan to retire from one field but insufficiently curious to learn what was next.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperfectly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperfectly. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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