infelicitously
1
9.9
- adverb
- /ˌɪnfəˈlɪsɪtəsli/
- Formal
- More often than not, ornate language and flights of rhetoric characterized the dialogue, sometimes with long poems interspersed infelicitously in between.
Examples
-
The problem, as you so infelicitously put it - "(Here a needle-toothed leer spread itself over Wellcome's face, a grimace for a dyspeptic possum to envy.)
Fiction book (1999) -
The movie was infelicitously timed, releasing during a global crisis.
-
He added, infelicitously, that his job was not to worry about the 47 percent.
Blog text (18) -
She infelicitously interrupted the speaker, causing an awkward pause in the conversation.
-
His infelicitously chosen words offended many people at the meeting.
Synonyms
41
3.4
In a way that is wrong or not suitable for the situation
40
4.5
In a way that is not right for the situation
36
2.7
In a clumsy or uncomfortable way, often showing nervousness around other people
12
3.5
In a way that makes you feel embarrassed
2
7.9
In a way that seems out of place for the situation
1
5.5
In a clumsy way that is not graceful
1
7.1
In a rude or unfriendly way
1
6.5
In a way that is not careful about other people's feelings and can embarrass them
1
4.8
In an awkward, clumsy way that is not smooth
1
8.1
In a way that is not proper or suitable for the situation
1
4.6
In a way that shows someone is shy or awkward
1
6.9
In a clumsy way that does not suit the situation
1
8.7
In a clumsy way that causes problems
1
8.1
In a way that makes people feel embarrassed or uncomfortable
1
8.7
In a way that shows bad manners
1
7.5
In a way that is not careful about other people's feelings
1
8.8
In a rude, awkward way that shows little politeness
1
7.2
Speaking in a clumsy, unclear way that makes your meaning hard to understand
In a way that is not sensible in the situation
Antonyms
How Appropriate
- Offensive
1
7.8
40
4.5
- Formal
1
9.9
36
2.7
116
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
infelicitously = infelicitous (semi-transparent) = in + felicitous + ly
Adding '-ly' to form the adverb is straightforward, but the negative prefix 'in-' + 'felicitous' depends on the relatively rare adjective 'felicitous', making the formation only partially obvious to average learners.
Etymology
Infelicitously breaks into in- ('not') and felicitous, which comes from a root meaning 'happy' or 'fortunate' and is the same root as felicity. So to do something infelicitously is to do it 'not happily' or 'not suitably', which explains why it means in an awkward, inappropriate, or unfortunate way.