Meaning & use

inappropriate

adjective·Everyday

Not suitable or proper for a particular situation, place, or audience.

See it in a sentence

His joke was completely inappropriate for a formal business meeting.

Wearing sandals felt inappropriate for such a formal wedding ceremony.

A note on using this word

"Inappropriate" is a common, softer way of criticizing behavior without directly calling it wrong or offensive.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

appropriatesuitable

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “inappropriate”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.