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Glite Dictionary
stilted

stilted

9 7.4
Too formal and unnatural in speech or writing so it sounds awkward
  • adjective
  • /ˈstɪltɪd/
translation icon : artificial
  • As the episode progressed, his speech became increasingly stilted, his delivery more wooden, and his head-tilts more creepy.

Everything Kamala said seemed tightly scripted or painfully stilted.

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Examples

  • Their cries of passion would have filled the room instead of their stilted, awkward conversation.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The language in the insert was stilted and obscure.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • And they used to send us letters all the time, um, real stilted English and everything.

    The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

  • Initially, conversation was somewhat stilted, which was to be expected, given the circumstances.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • And in the case of being a good listener, it might sound stilted at first to ask follow up questions.

  • Even to himself, he sounded like his worst professor's most stilted lecture.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • In places, the phrasing was stilted, but the meaning was unambiguous.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Many complain that Hawthorne's style is too turgid, too stilted, and dense to be enjoyable.

    Blog text (9)

  • The interview felt awkward and stilted, as the questions were overly formal and forced a sense of distance.

  • During the meeting, his stilted speech made it clear he was uncomfortable discussing personal topics.

Synonyms

artificial
vsstilted
53 4.5

A way of acting that is not natural and seems forced

is formal but also awkward and feels forced rather than merely unnatural
contrived
vsstilted
28 7.4

Planned or made so it feels artificial and not natural

is not just made deliberately but sounds awkward and overly formal
stagy
vsstilted
1 8.1

Being too dramatic and not natural, like acting on a stage

is formal and awkward but not mainly theatrical or for show
elocutionary
vsstilted
  • Formal
9.6

About public speaking that is very formal and showy

is formal too but feels stiff unnatural and awkward in conversation

Antonyms

natural
660 1.0

Normal and healthy for the body or mind

casual
194 2.8

Informal and relaxed, not serious

How Natural

spontaneous
187 4.2
stilted
9 7.4
awkward
33 3.0

Surface Forms

stilted positive

Morphology

stilted = stilt (semi-transparent) = stilt + ed

The adjective is formed from 'stilt' + '-ed' with a metaphorical shift: 'like someone on stilts' → 'artificial or awkward', so the relation is understandable but not fully literal.

Etymology

Stilted comes from the word stilt, a long pole used to walk above the ground. Walking on stilts looks 'stiff' and 'unnatural', so stilted describes speech or behavior that feels awkward and too formal.