half-baked

[haf-beykt, hahf-]

adjective

1. insufficiently cooked.

2. not completed; insufficiently planned or prepared.

   a half-baked proposal for tax reform.

3. lacking mature judgment or experience; unrealistic.

half-baked

adjective

1. insufficiently baked

2. informal,  foolish; stupid

3. informal,  poorly planned or conceived

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-baked¹

First recorded in 1615–25

Example Sentences

Even more fascinating is that with nothing but half-baked theories and no medical credentials, Kennedy was handed the most important job in American medicine.

From Los Angeles Times

Those who watch the live-action remake "will not get the same experience," insists Mr Guerrero, who expects the result to be "a half-baked story" where key plot points will be missing.

From BBC

We currently spend more on legal settlements to those hurt and killed on our streets than we do on Vision Zero, the city’s half-baked effort to reduce traffic deaths.

From Los Angeles Times

The latest example is Brett Cooper, a 23-year-old right-wing commentator whose vibe is “young female Ben Shapiro,” right down to her failed Hollywood career and the pompous tones she uses to deliver pandering, half-baked opinions.

From Salon

Or maybe the Supreme Court will come to regret this as one of many half-baked decisions.

From Salon

Related Words

• idiotic 
• ill-conceived 
• witless