INFELICITOUS Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

infelicitous

adjective

ˌin-fi-ˈli-sə-təs

Definition of infelicitous

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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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 infelicitous Listen to the tone of each, and for any buzz or hum or anything else infelicitous. — Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for infelicitous

Adjective

The Star spoke to 11 current and former employees who have worked for Sanders and who all detailed various types of abuse and inappropriate behavior that had allegedly taken place at their workplace.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
The inappropriate touching included slapping her on the buttocks and touching her hair and thighs, the report states.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adjective

Guy acknowledges, though, that this could lead to the level of chaos depicted in a memorable 2009 episode of The Office, where staff show up in an array of unsuitable outfits.

— Chloe Veltman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
That could allow geothermal projects to operate in locations that have traditionally been considered unsuitable for geothermal development.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsuitable

Adjective

Common exclusions can include pre-existing conditions, improper maintenance or installation, structural problems and certain issues involving rust, corrosion or sediment buildup.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Medicare, Medicaid, the Earned Income Tax Credit and SNAP were the four government programs with the highest amount of improper payments in 2025.

— Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of improper

Adjective

There is no doubt this one will be chalked up as an incorrect decision in the eyes of the KMI panel.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Earlier reports that the fire was caused by damage to the Tesla’s lithium-ion battery may be incorrect, Brown said.

— Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of incorrect

Adjective

Who wouldn’t like to whip out a formula that enabled you to judge this action as evil and the other as merely wrong?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of wrong

Adjective

But when an oblong ball hits the turf, there’s often an equal chance the other team will recover, so Harbaugh was predictably unhappy with his team’s four fumbles against Dallas.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
There's also the daunting task of keeping young conservatives engaged at a time when many of them are unhappy with party leaders.

— Elena Moore, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of unhappy

Adjective

At the Premier League’s semi-regular meetings between heads of recruitment some have argued that the five-step process is outdated and unfit for purpose.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
But in Meriwether’s hands, the show became a propulsive exploration of both women’s trauma and the misogynistic criminal justice system that’s unfit to deal with it.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of unfit

Browse Nearby Words

infects

infelicitous

infelicity

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“Infelicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infelicitous. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of infelicitous

adjective

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