Stilted

Stilted describes speech, writing, or behavior that is artificially formal, stiff, and unnatural. It often conveys a sense of awkwardness or pretension, and a lack of genuine emotion or spontaneity. This can arise from a desire to appear sophisticated or important, or from an inability to express oneself naturally. The effect is to distance the speaker or writer from their audience, creating an impression of insincerity or detachment. It can also refer to something elevated or raised up artificially, like structures supported by stilts, which further emphasizes the notion of artificiality and a removal from the ordinary.

Stilted meaning with examples

• His acceptance speech was filled with Stilted language and empty platitudes, leaving the audience feeling disconnected. He read from a prepared script, devoid of genuine emotion or personal anecdotes, making him seem insincere and impersonal to the crowd.
• The author's attempts at historical dialogue were marred by Stilted phrases and archaic vocabulary, rendering the characters' conversations wooden and unbelievable. The language was too formal and artificial, hindering the story's flow.
• Despite her efforts to appear graceful at the gala, her movements were Stilted, revealing her underlying discomfort. Every gesture felt forced and unnatural. The effort made the whole situation feel unrelaxed and overly formal.
• The play’s opening scene suffered from a Stilted pace, with actors delivering lines in a detached and emotionless manner, which failed to draw the audience into the narrative or to convey the seriousness of the plot.