inappropriate
adjective
in·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌi-nə-ˈprō-prē-ət 
: not appropriate : unsuitable
inappropriate behavior
The movie's subject matter is inappropriate for small children.
inappropriately
adverb
dressed inappropriately
inappropriateness
noun
the inappropriateness of his comments
Examples of inappropriate in a Sentence
We won't tolerate such inappropriate behavior.
Her informal manner seemed wholly inappropriate to the occasion.
Recent Examples on the Web
An internal investigation found no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students, and McGann resigned from Lewisville ISD in May 2023, FitzPatrick said.
—
Greta Cross, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
After further studies and community meetings, city planners found three intersections to be inappropriate and dropped them from the plan.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2025
The picture was initially displayed at Vigée Le Brun’s first-ever exhibition at the prestigious Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1783, though the exposing nature of the queen’s nightie was deemed too inappropriate for public viewership and quickly removed.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 29 July 2025
Neurologist Herbert Spencer and others theorized that laughter was a sort of nervous relief in response to perceiving something to be inappropriate or incongruous.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inappropriate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Greta Cross, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
After further studies and community meetings, city planners found three intersections to be inappropriate and dropped them from the plan.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2025
The picture was initially displayed at Vigée Le Brun’s first-ever exhibition at the prestigious Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1783, though the exposing nature of the queen’s nightie was deemed too inappropriate for public viewership and quickly removed.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 29 July 2025
Neurologist Herbert Spencer and others theorized that laughter was a sort of nervous relief in response to perceiving something to be inappropriate or incongruous.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inappropriate
Cite this Entry
“Inappropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inappropriate. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inappropriate
adjective
in·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌin-ə-ˈprō-prē-ət
: not appropriate : unsuitable
inappropriate behavior
inappropriately
adverb
inappropriateness
noun
Medical Definition
inappropriate
adjective
in·ap·pro·pri·ate
ˌin-ə-ˈprō-prē-ət
: abnormal
inappropriate urinary sodium excretion—K. G. Barry & J. P. Malloy
K. G. Barry & J. P. MalloyLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share