INAPPROPRIATE Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

inappropriate

adjective

ˌi-nə-ˈprō-prē-ət

Definition of inappropriate

as in unsuitable

not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation a bathing suit is inappropriate dress for strolling the streets of this seaside village

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of inappropriate The judge ordered Facebook and Instagram to build banner and informational screens to clearly explain its protection features, best practices and tools to address inappropriate comment, for example, and display them regularly. — Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 Weatherford police were notified by Child Protective Services on July 30 that Liles was accused of exchanging inappropriate text messages with a student, according to a Facebook post from the department. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026 In April, the former congressman suspended his campaign for governor of California after multiple women accused him of inappropriate behavior ranging from sending lewd, unwanted messages to drugging, raping and choking them. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Then, 12 days later, Barnes also ended his campaign amid allegations of inappropriate behavior. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inappropriate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inappropriate

Adjective

When channels are created with unsuitable blades, angles, or placement, transplanted hair may grow in an unnatural direction or produce an overly uniform appearance.

— Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Websites often attract unsuitable clients due to ineffective copy, hindering business growth.

— Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsuitable

Adjective

Issues include elevated pH levels,and improper signage, filters and ladders.

— Abby Dodge, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, Flores, an employee at Graves County Middle School, is accused of having an improper relationship with a minor student in the district.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of improper

Adjective

The fact that the scoreboard was incorrect, Guccione told a pool reporter after the game, does not play a part in the ruling.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
The counterweight to that allure is emotional intelligence, the instinct to notice when the numbers are accurate, but the feeling is incorrect.

— Olatunde Badmus, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of incorrect

Adjective

The agent that flagged a bad clause in June stops flagging it in July, and nobody did anything wrong, and nothing broke.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Using the wrong type of cleaning product for your tub’s material can result in scratches, discoloration, or chips.

— Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrong

Adjective

So this became, like, a collective therapy session for everyone unhappy with the government.

— Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Their heated exchange on the field lasted more than two minutes, with Jones unhappy that Szoboszlai had given the captain’s armband to Tsimikas rather than him when the Hungary midfielder was substituted 13 minutes from time.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of unhappy

Adjective

West Germany 2-1 Netherlands A tournament that was dominated by security concerns in the early stages, and then slightly ruined later on by a sustained period of rainy weather which left the pitches unfit for quality football.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Within the context of the ongoing debate, the comment suggested the financial tie could make the company unfit to own the parking meter system.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Definition of unfit

Adjective

At that point, onboard autonomy takes over, making control link jamming largely irrelevant, Azhnyuk said.

— David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
And further back than that—the child my mother still describes, devouring books one after another, genre irrelevant.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026