Stilted

Quick meaning: Stilted is an adjective meaning Making use of or possessing a stilt or stilts, or things resembling stilts; raised on stilts.

Meaning

Making use of or possessing a stilt or stilts, or things resembling stilts; raised on stilts.

More Meanings

1. simple past and past participle of stilt
2. (figuratively) Elevated or raised in a contrived or unnatural way; stiff and artificially formal or pompous; also, depending on redundant, unnecessary elements.
3. (architecture) Of a building or architectural feature such as an arch or vault: supported by stilts (“supporting pillars or posts”); also (generally) having the main part raised above the usual level by some structure.

Example Sentences

[H]alf dazzled, a man, a soldier / Standing beside the stilted water tank, the Spanish girl / Peeking at him from the doorway.

And laugh at this fantaſtic Mummery, / This antic Prelude of groteſque Events, / Where Dwarfs are often ſtilted, and betray / A Littleneſs of ſoul by Worlds o'er-run, / And Nations laid in blood.

We were much more annoyed by our enemies within doors—the fleas, which, in spite of our stilted bedsteads, obtruded upon us, and were so ardent and active that sleep was hopeless in such society.

The crane and fowls of a like kind, seem to hold a middle place between land and water fowls, as they have separate toes like land fowls, but the bills and legs of the aquatic orders. [...] From the length of their legs they are called grallic, or stilted.

Synonyms for stilted

Depending on context, synonyms include awkward, laboured, affected, theatrical, effete, fey.

Antonyms for stilted

Common opposites include humble, natural.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include affected, contrived, artificial, stilty, stiltlike, stiltish.

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