stilted

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɪltɪd/

stilted (comparative more stilted, superlative most stilted)

1. Stiff and artificially formal.

   He gave a stilted bow and left.

2. Pompous.
3. (of a building) Supported by stilts.
4. (by extension) Unnatural, contrived, depending on unnecessary, redundant elements.
   • 2000, Arlyn J. Roffman, Meeting the Challenge of Learning Disabilities in Adulthood

     Rather than observing how others handled this issue, she decided it was easier to make a blanket policy of simply referring to all her colleagues by their surnames; this proved to be a stilted solution, however, as the majority of personnel commonly referred to one another by their first names.

• stiltedly
• stiltedness

• slitted