inappropriate

adjective

Sayin-uh-PROH-pree-uhtUS/ˌɪnəˈpɹoʊpɹi.ət/UK/ˌɪnəˈpɹəʊpɹi.ət/

4 meanings of inappropriate

1
adjective
Not right or suitable for a certain time, place, or situation.
Like wearing a swimsuit to a job interview: it just does not fit the moment.
Wearing shorts to the funeral felt inappropriate.
It is inappropriate to talk loudly in a library.
Similarunsuitable, improper, unfitting, unseemly, unbecoming
Oppositeappropriate, suitable, fitting, proper
2
adjectivecolloquial
A polite word for something that is sexual or meant only for adults.
The teacher removed the inappropriate images from the class website.
Her boss kept making inappropriate comments about her body.
Similarexplicit, indecent, suggestive, improper, lewd
Oppositeappropriate, decent, clean, suitable
3
adjectivecolloquial
Very nasty or gross, so that people want to turn away from it.
That moldy sandwich was so inappropriate I almost threw up.
The state of the public bathroom was absolutely inappropriate.
Similardisgusting, revolting, vile, repulsive, gross
Oppositepleasant, nice, appealing
4
adjectivecolloquial
So gross or nasty that it is too much to handle.
The mess they left behind was just too inappropriate to clean up.
The gas station bathroom was beyond inappropriate, so we drove on to the next town.
Similarunbearable, intolerable, disgusting, revolting, outrageous
Oppositetolerable, bearable, acceptable

Practice

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Origin

It comes from "in-" (meaning "not") plus "appropriate."