inartful

English

Etymology

Alteration of earlier unartful, equivalent to in- +‎ artful.

Adjective

inartful (comparative more inartful, superlative most inartful)

1. Awkwardly expressed but not necessarily untrue; ill-phrased; inexpedient

   Synonyms: clumsy, unartful

   • 2008, Barack Obama, prepared statement, quoted in William Safire, “Inartful”, The New York Times Magazine, 2008 July 20,

     The fact that […] General Clark said something that was inartful about John McCain, I don’t think is what is keeping Ohioans up at night.

Derived terms

• inartfully
• inartfulness

Anagrams

• trainful