Definition

1. Adverb:
   • In a stiff, formal, or unnatural manner: The word "stiltedly" describes a way of speaking, behaving, or writing that is overly formal, rigid, and lacking in natural ease or spontaneity. It often implies a forced or artificial quality.

Usage and Examples

• Adverb:
  • She spoke stiltedly during the formal ceremony, carefully choosing every word.
  • The dialogue in the play felt unnatural because the actors delivered their lines so stiltedly.
  • He greeted his guests stiltedly, as if he were reading from a script.

Advanced Usage

• "to act stiltedly": to behave in a constrained and unnatural way.
  • The nervous interviewee acted stiltedly, unable to relax and be himself.
• "to write stiltedly": to compose text in a formal, wooden, or artificial style.
  • The early draft of the novel was written stiltedly, but the final version flowed naturally.

Variants and Related Words

• Stilted (adjective): stiffly or artificially formal.
  • His stilted prose made the article difficult to read.
• Stiltedness (noun): the quality of being stilted.
  • The stiltedness of the conversation made everyone uncomfortable.

Synonyms

• Formally: In a conventionally strict manner.
• Stiffly: In a rigid or not relaxed manner.
• Unnaturally: In a way that is not spontaneous or genuine.
• Woodenly: In a stiff, awkward, or expressionless way.

Antonyms

• Naturally: In a relaxed and spontaneous manner.
• Fluently: In a smooth and effortless manner.
• Casually: In an informal and relaxed way.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "With stilted politeness": displaying courtesy in an overly formal and unnatural way.
  • They exchanged greetings with stilted politeness, revealing the tension between them.

Adverb

1. in a stilted manner
   • she answered him stiltedly