malapropos
/'mæl'æprəpou/
Definition
Adjective:
- Inappropriate or inapt: Describes something that is unsuitable, out of place, or applied incorrectly for a given situation.
- Ill-timed: Refers to something occurring at an inconvenient or unsuitable moment.
Adverb:
- Inopportunely: At an inconvenient or inappropriate time.
- Inappropriately: In a manner that is not fitting or suitable.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- His malapropos comment about finances during the wedding toast made everyone uncomfortable.
- Wearing a swimsuit to the formal meeting was a malapropos choice.
Adverb:
- She called malapropos, just as the important meeting was starting.
- The joke was told malapropos, ruining the solemn mood of the ceremony.
Advanced Usage
- Used to critique timing or suitability: Often employed in formal or literary contexts to criticize the inappropriateness of an action, remark, or event.
- The senator's malapropos attempt at humor during the crisis briefing was widely criticized.
Variants and Related Words
- Malapropism (noun): The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an unintentionally comic effect. This is a related but distinct concept.
- Saying "dance a flamingo" instead of "dance a flamenco" is a classic malapropism.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Inappropriate, inapt, unsuitable, untimely, inopportune.
- Adverb: Inopportunely, inappropriately, unseasonably, untimely.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Appropriate, apt, suitable, timely, opportune.
- Adverb: Appropriately, opportunely, seasonably, fittingly.
Adjective
-
of an inappropriate or incorrectly applied nature
Adverb
-
at an inconvenient time
-
he arrived inopportunely just as we sat down for dinner
-
she answered malapropos
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ trái nghĩa
Từ tương tự
Từ có nhắc đến "malapropos"
