1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
the conversation was somewhat stilted as we didn't seem to share any interests
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details
a stilted letter of apology that was written and accepted with equal measures of insincerity
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Recent Examples of stilted
Another example is The Last Barbeque (2008), which depicts a relaxed social gathering that is both familiar in concept and enigmatic in feel, within a somewhat stilted composition.
—
Precious Adesina, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Meanwhile, Athie finds warmth in Olivier’s detachment, ably using his deep voice for a stilted delivery that makes this wayward man feel quite at home bonding with a single chair.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
Mufasa opens in the stilted aftermath of the 2019 movie (also written by Nathanson).
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
The rooms The camp has just nine tents branching off a stilted wooden walkway with plenty of space in between.
—Chris Schalkx, AFAR Media, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for stilted
Precious Adesina, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Meanwhile, Athie finds warmth in Olivier’s detachment, ably using his deep voice for a stilted delivery that makes this wayward man feel quite at home bonding with a single chair.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
Mufasa opens in the stilted aftermath of the 2019 movie (also written by Nathanson).
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
The rooms The camp has just nine tents branching off a stilted wooden walkway with plenty of space in between.
—Chris Schalkx, AFAR Media, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for stilted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stilted
Adjective
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Because that bigger picture is a murky, uncomfortable state.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Not only is this uncomfortable, but scratching (which is hard to resist) can increase the risk of hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation.—
Sierra Leone Starks,
Allure,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The public health alert, while not a formal recall, is intended to inform consumers about potential health risks associated with some products, according to the USDA.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
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This easygoing aesthetic introduces itself in the living room, which doubles as the home’s entry since there’s no formal foyer.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Sisterhood in sports can come with awkward moments, though.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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In fact, the timing of the 11th annual event in Santa Monica made for some awkward — even, some would say, problematic — optics and messaging for these celebrities.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Not easy to do, but nice to come through tonight.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
-
There’s a place downtown called Soul Classics that’s really nice, like street-wear stuff.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Raw also advertised Bayley challenging Lyra Valkyria for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship, Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio and the world’s most clumsy GM Adam Pearce making his next fumble of the worst storyline going this WrestleMania season between Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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This is why the Trump administration’s DOGE exercise — while clumsy at times — is such an important endeavor despite Democratic efforts to discredit it.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Aside from a series of gruesome martyr scenes frescoed on the interior wall of the second ring in the late 16th century, the decor reflects late Imperial taste for decorous abstraction and costly materials.—
The New York Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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Is there any decorous way to acknowledge my failure to do so over the past few years and to express my regret?—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, some attendees at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, started to feel uneasy.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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But Sherrill remains uneasy about what could happen next.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The vice president’s role in officiating the Electoral College count before Congress — the final step in the election process before a president takes the White House — was known for many cycles as one that was mostly uneventful and largely ceremonious.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
6 Jan. 2025
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The chief and Kayce seal the deal with a ceremonious blood pact.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
15 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Stilted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stilted. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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