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inappropriately

inappropriately

45 4.5
In a way that is not right for the situation
  • adverb
  • /ˌɪnəˈproʊpriətli/
translation icon : de manera inapropiada
  • The meeting was awkward because he made several inappropriately personal comments about his colleagues.
  • behave inappropriately
  • use inappropriately
  • appropriately or inappropriately

And then she sometimes used to touch me inappropriately, apart from the beatings.

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Examples

  • Before 2006, oxygen was sometimes prescribed inappropriately, and the supply to patients was haphazard.

    Academic text (2011)
  • His wife accused him of inappropriately touching their daughter.

  • A little girl says you touched her inappropriately in class.

  • Students also used the words inappropriately in class discussions and written work.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The students were appropriately engaged a great deal less (17%), and inappropriately engaged more (3%).

    Academic text (1994)
  • Some critics labeled it a Western technology inappropriately imposed on non-Western societies.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The University of Connecticut forbids not only speech deemed offensive but also "inappropriately directed laughter."

    Academic text (1992)
  • My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second guessing inappropriately or drama.

  • "No, I haven't seen it," Blizzard said, in a voice Chee felt was inappropriately loud.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • This is a problem with your immune system inappropriately attacking your thyroid gland or some part of your thyroid function.

Synonyms

improperly
vsinappropriately
49 3.4

In a way that is wrong or not suitable for the situation

is the neutral description of not being fitting for the circumstances
unwisely
vsinappropriately
5 4.1

In a way that shows poor judgment

concerns being not proper for the situation rather than mere bad judgment
unacceptably
vsinappropriately
4 4.4

To a level that cannot be tolerated

signals unsuitability in a situation rather than measuring degree of tolerance
incongruously
vsinappropriately
3 7.9

In a way that seems out of place for the situation

covers being unsuitable more generally rather than only looking out of place
indelicately
vsinappropriately
1 6.5

In a way that is not careful about other people's feelings and can embarrass them

means being unsuitable in general rather than specifically lacking tact
imprudently
vsinappropriately
1 7.7

In a way that shows no care for possible bad results

refers to unsuitability rather than risking harm from thoughtless acts
inaptly
vsinappropriately
  • Formal
1 6.9

In a clumsy way that does not suit the situation

is about general unsuitability without stressing clumsiness or awkwardness
unbecomingly
vsinappropriately
  • Formal
1 8.1

In a way that is not proper or suitable for the situation

is a general label for being unsuitable, not only failing social standards
unfittingly
vsinappropriately
6.9

In a way that is not right for the situation

is the neutral label for the same lack of fit in many contexts
unfitly
vsinappropriately
8.5

In a way that is not suitable for the situation

is used broadly to indicate general unsuitability rather than specific wrongness
unsuitably
vsinappropriately
4.0

In a way that is not right for the situation or person

is the general term for being improper in a situation or context
indecorously
vsinappropriately
  • Formal
8.7

In a way that shows bad manners

is broader, covering unsuitability beyond just manners or decorum
inexpediently
vsinappropriately
  • Formal
9.9

In a way that is not sensible in the situation

focuses on unsuitability without implying poor planning or bad judgment
infelicitously
vsinappropriately
  • Formal
9.9

In an awkward or wrong way that causes trouble

refers to unsuitability without stressing awkwardness or bad timing
inadvisably
vsinappropriately
7.2

In a way that is not wise or safe

focuses on being unsuitable rather than on lack of wisdom or advice
injudiciously
vsinappropriately
  • Formal
8.4

Acting without good sense or careful thought

describes unsuitability rather than specifically poor judgment or care

Antonyms

120 3.5

In a suitable way for the situation

9 3.9

In a way that is right for the situation

How Appropriate

properly
686 1.0
appropriately
120 3.5
acceptably
2 3.2
inappropriately
45 4.5
awkwardly
38 2.7

Surface Forms

inappropriately positive

Morphology

inappropriately = inappropriate (transparent) = in + appropriate + ly

This is a standard adverb formation from the adjective 'inappropriate' with '-ly', and the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Inappropriately breaks into in- meaning 'not' and appropriate meaning 'suitable' or 'right for the situation'. So to act inappropriately is to act in a way that is 'not suitable' for that situation.