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maladapted

American

[mal-uh-dap-tid] / ˌmæl əˈdæp tɪd /

adjective

poorly suited or adapted to a particular condition or set of circumstances.

maladapted to the demands of modern society.

Etymology

Origin of maladapted

First recorded in 1940–45; mal- + adapted ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His macho posturing is maladapted, only escalating Trina’s troubles and sending him back to his couch.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2023

Hot summer conditions are making some urban areas nearly unlivable, and experts are concerned that migration may be the only option in maladapted areas.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2022

Many appear maladapted to land: “There are those who would call our devotion to the pool excessive, if not pathological,” our narrators tell us.

From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2022

Suddenly maladapted, these insects became targets for hungry birds, and that caused a domino effect.

From Scientific American • Feb. 1, 2018

Suddenly maladapted, these insects became targets for hungry birds, and that caused a domino effect1.

From Nature • Jan. 30, 2018

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023