SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
stilted
adjective
Unnaturally formal or awkward in expression.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Artificially formal
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topStilted speech lacks natural ease. Formal language can be entirely fluent and appropriate, while contrived suggests an artificial arrangement more broadly.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See stilted in use
The dialogue sounded stilted when the actors read it aloud.
The wording sounded stilted because ordinary invitations had been replaced with unnaturally formal phrases.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license