uncalled-for — not necessary, appropriate, or justified; unwarranted
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not necessary, appropriate, or justified; unwarranted
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʌnˈkɔːld fɔːr/
Example Sentences
- The teacher's harsh punishment was uncalled-for since the student was only asking a question.
- Your uncalled-for joke about my cooking made everyone feel awkward at dinner.
- The boss's uncalled-for anger over such a minor mistake shocked all the employees.
uncalled-for
ADJECTIVE[/ʌnˈkɔːld fɔːr/]
not necessary, appropriate, or justified; unwarranted
Unnecessary harsh criticism
His uncalled-for anger bounced off the walled space where no one had called
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This expression is formed by attaching the negation prefix 'un-' to the verb phrase 'call for' (meaning to demand or require). It originally denoted something 'not requested or required', and later developed into the sense of 'unjustified' or 'unnecessary'.
Breakdown
un- (not) + called-for (needed, requested), where 'called for' is the past participle of the phrasal verb 'call for' meaning 'to require or demand'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The teacher's harsh punishment was uncalled-for since the student was only asking a question.”
“Your uncalled-for joke about my cooking made everyone feel awkward at dinner.”
“The boss's uncalled-for anger over such a minor mistake shocked all the employees.”
“My cat's uncalled-for attack on my homework was the worst excuse I ever had to give my teacher.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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