Meaning & use
studied
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Done on purpose and with care, often so that it looks natural or casual when it is really carefully practiced.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a studied pose, not a pose that is studied.
Patterns
- a studied pose
- with studied calm
He answered with studied indifference, though he cared deeply.
Her studied politeness hid how annoyed she was.
The actor's studied casual walk looked rehearsed.
Word forms
| comparative | more studied |
|---|---|
| superlative | most studied |
Common combinations
- studied indifference
- She greeted the news with studied indifference.
- studied casualness
- His studied casualness fooled nobody.
- studied calm
- He spoke with studied calm during the argument.
- a studied pose
- The portrait showed a studied pose of confidence.
- studied neglect
- The garden had a look of studied neglect.
Synonyms and how they differ
- deliberate
- Deliberate means done on purpose and does not suggest that the effect is meant to look natural, as studied does.
- contrived
- Contrived is more negative and suggests something forced or artificial, while studied can simply mean carefully practiced.
- affected
- Affected describes behavior that is put on to impress, while studied stresses that effort has gone into the act.
- calculated
- Calculated suggests planning to gain an advantage, while studied focuses on the polished appearance of ease.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: studied or studious?
studied vs studious
Studious describes someone who likes to study hard. Studied describes an act or manner that has been carefully rehearsed.
Practice
Though he was nervous about the interview, he spoke with ___ calm so that no one would notice.
Choose one answer.
Studied calm is a calm that is practiced on purpose. Studious describes a diligent learner and does not fit this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “studied”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.