infelicitously
- adverb
- /ˌɪnfəˈlɪsɪtəsli/
- Formal
:
infelizmente
- 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
49
3.4
In a way that is wrong or not suitable for the situation
45
4.5
In a way that is not right for the situation
38
2.7
In a clumsy or uncomfortable way, often showing nervousness around other people
13
3.5
In a way that makes you feel embarrassed
3
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
6.9
In a clumsy way that does not suit the situation
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
In a clumsy way that causes problems
In a rude, awkward way that shows little politeness
Speaking in a clumsy, unclear way that makes your meaning hard to understand
In a way that shows bad manners
In a way that is not careful about other people's feelings
In a way that is not sensible in the situation
In a way that makes people feel embarrassed or uncomfortable
Antonyms
How Appropriate
- Offensive
1
7.8
45
4.5
- Formal
38
2.7
120
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.