infelicitous
UK/.infi'lisitәs/US
GREC2
Definitions
adj.
(of words or actions) awkward or poorly chosen; not apt
（措辞或行为）不恰当的，欠妥的
adj.
Unfortunate; not happily timed
不巧的，不幸的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedin-not, opposite of
+
-it-connector
+
-ousfull of, having the quality of
=infelicitous
in- (not) + felicitous (aptly worded) = "not aptly worded." The negative of felicitous, it usually means a phrase or remark is clumsy or ill-judged — a polite, understated way to flag bad wording.
Root felic still carries 3 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.an infelicitous remark失言
- 2.infelicitous phrasing措辞不当
- 3.an infelicitous choice欠妥的选择
Example Sentences
- 1.
His infelicitous remark about her accent ended the dinner early.
- 2.
The report's infelicitous phrasing left readers confused.
- 3.
It was an infelicitous moment to ask for a raise.