Stiltedly

Stiltedly describes something done or said in a stiff, unnatural, or affected manner, lacking ease or grace. It often implies a degree of artificiality or pretension, where actions or speech appear forced and self-conscious, hindering a natural flow. This can manifest in formal language, rigid body language, or overly elaborate gestures. The term suggests a disconnect between genuine expression and the way something is presented, causing it to seem awkward or insincere. It’s about a performance rather than authentic interaction. Think of someone trying too hard to be impressive, ultimately creating a strained effect.

Stiltedly meaning with examples

• The politician's speech was delivered stiltedly, filled with rehearsed phrases and devoid of genuine emotion, making it difficult for the audience to connect with his message. His gestures felt forced. The rigid posture only heightened the stilted delivery and lack of warmth. The crowd felt the difference between this and organic delivery.
• Her attempt at humor fell flat because she delivered the punchline stiltedly, failing to create the expected comedic timing. Her voice became artificial. The forced laughter only emphasized the awkwardness. The whole scene left the audience to feel like they were on display.
• The actors in the period drama spoke stiltedly, their dialogue laden with archaic language that sounded unnatural to modern ears. Their movements felt contrived. They had forgotten natural movement. The director had forgotten how to make them act. The result was wooden.
• He wrote the love letter stiltedly, using overly flowery language that sounded insincere and unfeeling to the recipient. It felt like it had been written by a robot. Each sentence sounded out of place. The language was not genuine. The effect made her feel cold.
• During the job interview, she answered the questions stiltedly, providing memorized responses instead of engaging in a natural conversation, giving a sense of disingenuousness. The posture, the answers. It was an audition. The HR person's expression soured. The interview went badly.