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Glite Dictionary
😔 Poorly adjusted 🌱 Not suited
maladapted

maladapted

7.8
Not suited to a place or situation so it does not work well there
  • adjective
  • /ˌmæl.əˈdæp.tɪd/
translation icon : maladaptado
  • Without proper training, workers may be maladapted to the demands of the job.

Examples

  • Many species become maladapted when their habitats change too quickly.

  • Intelligence is not necessary to live in the forest, but we are maladapted to live in the forest.

  • I think it's just a a maladapted evolutionary heritage coming through.

  • The secret of evolution is an enormous period of time and the deaths of many maladapted, poorly adapted organisms.

  • In the antibiotic example, antibiotics led to the selective elimination of maladapted individuals from a larger population.

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  • In a new environment, they often feel maladapted and struggle to find food.

Synonyms

maladaptive
vsmaladapted
  • Specialized
2 8.4

A way of behaving that does not help and causes problems

refers to poor fit without implying harm or dysfunction
unadaptable
vsmaladapted
1 7.4

Not able or willing to change when conditions are different

means poor suitability rather than permanent inability or refusal
maladjusted
vsmaladapted
7.4

Failing to fit well into a situation or system

is about general poor fit rather than specific demands
maladjustive
vsmaladapted
  • Specialized
9.9

Having trouble dealing with a situation or its demands

is broader meaning simply not well suited overall
unadapted
vsmaladapted
7.3

Not used to new conditions and so struggle to live or work there

focuses on being poorly suited rather than not yet changed
unadaptive
vsmaladapted
7.8

Not able to change when facing new conditions

describes poor fit rather than lacking capacity to respond

Antonyms

suited
16 2.8

Right for a certain person, job, or situation

adapted
3.7

Changed to fit a particular use or situation

How Adaptive

adaptive
33 4.9
adapted
3.7
unadapted
7.3
maladapted
7.8
maladaptive
  • Specialized
2 8.4

Surface Forms

maladapted positive

Morphology

maladapted = adapted (transparent) = mal + adapt + ed

Formed with the negative prefix 'mal-' attached to 'adapted', so the meaning 'not well suited' is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word maladapted comes from mal- 'bad' and adapt 'to fit or change to a situation'. Think of a plant put in the wrong place that cannot grow well; a maladapted species, person, or business is not well-suited to its environment or situation.