as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
an infelicitous comment on the weight of the guest of honor at the banquet
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Recent Examples of infelicitous
Notwithstanding infelicitous boasting, Trump is a man of his word who will scrupulously honor his oath of office.
—
Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2024
Even so, the impulse to nationalize the problem will have its own, infelicitous effects.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
Film-school student Haynes always imitates better directors — Fassbinder’s social melodrama, Joseph Losey’s studies of decadence (pilfering the infelicitous piano score from Losey’s The Go-Between, from 1971).
—Armond White, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024
Dallas American politics lately feels like an endless game of—pardon the infelicitous word—delegitimation.
—Barton Swaim, wsj.com, 18 Apr. 2023
The New York bill would implement a concept called extended producer responsibility, an incredibly infelicitous recycling term.
—Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2021
Despite the infelicitous coincidence of the election date with Easter — which would normally have been expected to depress turnout — turnout actually ticked slightly upward from recent contests, to 67 percent.
—Amy Erica Smith, Vox, 2 Apr. 2018
As in video games, the action is lurid, hyperkinetic, and gruesomely violent, with nods to Grand Theft Auto and a comparably infelicitous treatment of the few women characters who show up.
—Chicago Reader, 12 Oct. 2017
Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2024
Even so, the impulse to nationalize the problem will have its own, infelicitous effects.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
Film-school student Haynes always imitates better directors — Fassbinder’s social melodrama, Joseph Losey’s studies of decadence (pilfering the infelicitous piano score from Losey’s The Go-Between, from 1971).
—Armond White, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024
Dallas American politics lately feels like an endless game of—pardon the infelicitous word—delegitimation.
—Barton Swaim, wsj.com, 18 Apr. 2023
The New York bill would implement a concept called extended producer responsibility, an incredibly infelicitous recycling term.
—Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2021
Despite the infelicitous coincidence of the election date with Easter — which would normally have been expected to depress turnout — turnout actually ticked slightly upward from recent contests, to 67 percent.
—Amy Erica Smith, Vox, 2 Apr. 2018
As in video games, the action is lurid, hyperkinetic, and gruesomely violent, with nods to Grand Theft Auto and a comparably infelicitous treatment of the few women characters who show up.
—Chicago Reader, 12 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infelicitous
Adjective
-
The girl also reported seeing inappropriate images on the screensaver of an iPad at Berrelez’s home.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Judge Arun Subramanian noted the tone of the defense's letter was inappropriate and should not be done again.—
Lauryn Overhultz , Tracy Wright , Maria Paronich , Kirill Clark,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Financial promotion rules prevent inappropriate marketing to unsuitable investors.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
According to a study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment in 2024, up to 70% of current wine-producing regions could become unsuitable for growing grapes if global temperatures rise by more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.—
Miguel A. Torres,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This investigation suggests that some treasury company activity may involve improper information sharing or insider trading rather than genuine institutional adoption.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Another major violation would be improper cooling.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In April, the sheriff disclosed further issues, including incorrect citation numbers and amounts.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Aerating in the incorrect season could have negative consequences for your lawn.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s something wrong with them right away.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Mike McDaniel said Wright did nothing wrong, but Miami needed more bodies on defense and special teams.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Smart, much like Georgia’s fan base, is pretty unhappy after yet another loss to Alabama.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
While there are reasons to be unhappy with the performance, each win in the NFL is hard to get.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gostisbehere, Carolina’s best offensive defenseman, being unfit for the top four adds to that pressure.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
He was deemed unfit to stand trial, and spent the next 11 years in psychiatric hospitals.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infelicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infelicitous. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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