infelicitous
/,infi'lisitəs/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Causing or marked by unhappiness or misfortune: Describes something that produces or is characterized by bad luck, sadness, or an unfortunate outcome.
- Not appropriate; unsuitable or awkward: Describes something, especially language or an action, that is poorly chosen, inappropriate for the context, or defective in its expression.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The infelicitous timing of the announcement caused widespread panic. (The unfortunate/unlucky timing of the announcement caused widespread panic.)
- His infelicitous comment during the formal dinner created an awkward silence. (His inappropriate/awkward comment during the formal dinner created an awkward silence.)
- The campaign was doomed by a series of infelicitous events. (The campaign was doomed by a series of unfortunate events.)
Advanced Usage
- Infelicitously (adverb): In an unfortunate or inappropriate manner.
- The statement was infelicitously phrased, offending many listeners.
- Infelicitousness (noun): The quality or state of being unfortunate or inappropriate.
- The infelicitousness of the remark was apparent to everyone in the room.
Variants and Related Words
- Felicitous (adj): Well-chosen or suited to the circumstances; pleasing and fortunate. (This is the direct antonym of ).
- She made a felicitous speech that perfectly captured the mood of the celebration.
- Unfortunate (adj): Characterized by bad luck; unlucky. (A close synonym for the first meaning).
- Inapt (adj): Not suitable or appropriate in the circumstances. (A close synonym for the second meaning).
Synonyms
- Unfortunate: Having or marked by bad fortune; unlucky.
- Inappropriate: Not suitable or proper in the circumstances.
- Awkward: Causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with; causing or feeling embarrassment.
- Maladroit: Ineffective or bungling; clumsy. (Often used for actions or expressions).
Idioms and Phrases
- While itself is not commonly used in fixed idioms, it describes situations commonly referred to by idioms such as "a stroke of bad luck" or "putting one's foot in one's mouth" (for inappropriate remarks).
Adjective
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marked by or producing unhappiness
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infelicitous circumstances
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unhappy caravans, straggling afoot through swamps and canebrakes- American Guide Series
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not appropriate in application; defective
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an infelicitous remark
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infelicitous phrasing
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the infelicitous typesetting was due to illegible copy
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