INFELICITOUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does infelicitous mean? 

• INFELICITOUS (adjective)
  The adjective INFELICITOUS has 2 senses:

1. not appropriate in application; defective

2. marked by or producing unhappiness

  Familiarity information: INFELICITOUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INFELICITOUS (adjective)

Comparative: infelicitouser   
Superlative: infelicitousest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not appropriate in application; defective

Context example:

the infelicitous typesetting was due to illegible copy

Similar:

awkward; clumsy; cumbersome; ill-chosen; inapt; inept (not elegant or graceful in expression)

unfortunate (unsuitable or regrettable)

Also:

unhappy (experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent)

Attribute:

felicitousness; felicity (pleasing and appropriate manner or style (especially manner or style of expression))

Antonym:

felicitous (exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style)

Derivation:

infelicity (inappropriate and unpleasing manner or style (especially manner or style of expression))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by or producing unhappiness

Synonyms:

infelicitous; unhappy

Context example:

unhappy caravans, straggling afoot through swamps and canebrakes

Similar:

unfortunate (not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune)