stilted — artificially formal and awkward in manner or style
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: artificially formal and awkward in manner or style
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈstɪltɪd/
Example Sentences
- The robot's stilted movements made it obvious it wasn't human.
- Her first date conversation was so stilted that he thought she was reading from a script.
- The actor's stilted performance ruined an otherwise great movie.
stilted
ADJECTIVE[/ˈstɪltɪd/]
artificially formal and awkward in manner or style
a formally dressed man attempts to dance with exaggerated, robotic movements while holding his arms unnaturally stiff. He maintains an overly serious facial expression as he takes mechanical steps across the dance floor. His dance partner looks confused and uncomfortable as she tries to follow his awkward rhythm. Other couples around them dance naturally and smoothly, creating a stark contrast to the main character's performance. The ballroom guests in the background whisper and point at the peculiar dancing style. artificially formal and awkward manner in social interaction
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From the noun 'stilt' (wooden poles used for walking above ground) plus the suffix '-ed'. The word developed the figurative meaning of being artificially elevated or unnatural, like someone awkwardly walking on stilts.
Breakdown
stilt (wooden support pole) + -ed (past participle suffix, meaning 'having the quality of')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The robot's stilted movements made it obvious it wasn't human.”
“Her first date conversation was so stilted that he thought she was reading from a script.”
“The actor's stilted performance ruined an otherwise great movie.”
“He tried to impress his girlfriend's parents but his stilted politeness backfired.”
📚Related Words
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