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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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
Legs wheeling, steve is a stilted shadow on the side of the road, a hundred feet before the finish line, waiting for me.
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Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024
The pilot opens with the arrival of his new second-in-command Dag, played by Lolly Adefope, who provides a somewhat stilted expository voice.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2024
Instead, their stilted onscreen camaraderie does the film no favors, especially as Andy and Anna gradually begin to get on better.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024
Vance, meanwhile, is the stilted right-winger who went to an Ivy League school, spent six years as a venture capitalist, and likes to spread conspiracy theories.
—Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stilted 
Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024
The pilot opens with the arrival of his new second-in-command Dag, played by Lolly Adefope, who provides a somewhat stilted expository voice.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2024
Instead, their stilted onscreen camaraderie does the film no favors, especially as Andy and Anna gradually begin to get on better.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024
Vance, meanwhile, is the stilted right-winger who went to an Ivy League school, spent six years as a venture capitalist, and likes to spread conspiracy theories.
—Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stilted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stilted
Adjective
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Be realistic The most uncomfortable truth of the last few days has been how quickly firefighting efforts were overwhelmed and outmatched by the extreme fire conditions, Cohen said.Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
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Aviation may be one of the safest forms of transportation, but unexpected turbulence can be an uncomfortable or even dangerous experience for airline passengers.Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While leaders and managers often serve as mentors due to their influence and experience, mentorship extends beyond formal roles.Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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His wife sometimes held a camera, and his friend Rick sometimes lent a hand with builds, but Furze did not hire any formal staff and worked primarily in a back-yard workshop and an old barn.Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Though the two might have an awkward run-in in the Love Island All-Stars Villa.Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 13 Jan. 2025
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Ribas’ hands and movement were much crisper than that of Dern, whose movement was awkward and punches were slower and wilder than those of her foe.Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Nintendo Switch Lite was a great way to play Switch games on a smaller device, and the Nintendo Switch OLED added a beautiful display and a handful of other nice upgrades.Jay Peters, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025
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The engagement is certainly a nice break from the recent drama in Pats land - after New England’s season finale, the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, a move that has been heavily criticized by ex-Patriots.Ryan Morik, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In a moment when Liston was hurling a clumsy punch and his balance was susceptible, Ali threw what looked like a swiping right graze at his opponent’s head.Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
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Even observers who think the outlook for China’s economy is less dire agree that its growth is slowing and will be constrained by structural challenges and a clumsy policymaking process.Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 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 décor reflects late Imperial taste for decorous abstraction and costly materials.David Laskin, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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They’re totally fictionalized and, in their own way, the intrusive projections of what Morgan might’ve thought happened between the two, but what he’s imagined is decorous and dramatically unsatisfying.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 July 2024
Adjective
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The addition of such real-life clips—including that of the anchor Jim McKay—gives September 5 a documentary-like feel, cleverly immersing viewers into the uneasy headspace of those inside the studio.Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Congress passed the law that would force a sale in April with bipartisan support as lawmakers from both parties have been uneasy over the app’s ties to China.Nik Popli, TIME, 9 Jan. 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
Thesaurus Entries Near stilted
Cite this Entry
“Stilted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stilted. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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