maladaptive
Americanadjective
adjective
-
unsuitably adapted or adapting poorly to (a situation, purpose, etc)
-
not encouraging adaptation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of maladaptive
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This strategy focuses on identifying and eliminating only maladaptive senescent cells while preserving cells that still contribute to tissue repair and stability.
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026
By clinical standards, polarization shares many markers with recognized disorders: social isolation, chronic stress, heightened anxiety and maladaptive coping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2025
With chronic loneliness, that stress response gets stuck and becomes disadvantageous — similar to the way in which anxiety can shift a helpful fear response to a maladaptive mental illness.
From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2024
Indeed, stepdads went on to have as many chicks as did the killers over the birds’ lifetimes—upending the established idea that adoption is maladaptive and hinders a stepparent’s reproductive success.
From Science Magazine ● May 5, 2024
Manly warned it can lead to maladaptive daydreaming, which is when a person excessively daydreams for hours at a time.
From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2024
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
