Maladjusted: meaning, definitions and examples

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maladjusted

 

[ ˌmæl.əˈdʒʌs.tɪd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

social behavior

Maladjusted refers to a person who is not able to adapt appropriately to social situations or environments. Such individuals may struggle with interpersonal relationships and may exhibit behavior that is not aligned with societal norms.

Synonyms

inadaptable, out of place, unadapted, unfitted

Examples of usage

  • The maladjusted child often found it hard to make friends.
  • She was considered maladjusted due to her inability to conform to school rules.
  • His maladjusted behavior raised concerns among his teachers.
  • Therapy can help a maladjusted individual learn better coping mechanisms.

Translations

Translations of the word "maladjusted" in other languages:

🇵🇹 malajustado

🇮🇳 असामंजस्यपूर्ण

🇩🇪 maljustiert

🇮🇩 tidak teratur

🇺🇦 непристосований

🇵🇱 źle przystosowany

🇯🇵 不適応の

🇫🇷 malajusté

🇪🇸 desajustado

🇹🇷 uyumsuz

🇰🇷 부적응의

🇸🇦 غير متكيف

🇨🇿 nepřizpůsobený

🇸🇰 neprispôsobený

🇨🇳 不适应的

🇸🇮 neprilagojen

🇮🇸 óviðeigandi

🇰🇿 дұрыс емес

🇬🇪 არაპროპორციული

🇦🇿 uyğunsuz

🇲🇽 desajustado

Word origin

The term 'maladjusted' was coined in the early 20th century, combining the prefix 'mal-', meaning 'bad' or 'wrong', with 'adjusted', from the Latin 'adjuxtare', meaning 'to bring to order'. Originally used in psychological contexts to describe individuals who failed to adjust to societal demands or norms, the term has since been applied broadly to various fields, including education and social sciences. It reflects the growing awareness of the importance of mental health and social skills in personal development. In clinical psychology, 'maladjustment' became a focus for understanding behavioral issues arising from an inability to adapt successfully to one's environment, leading to further research into effective intervention strategies. Therefore, 'maladjusted' signifies not just a failure in adjustment but also highlights the necessity for support and understanding in one's social integration.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,462, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.