maladapted
Not well suited
Maladapted describes something poorly suited to its environment or circumstances.
In biology, a maladapted species lacks traits needed to survive in its habitat.
The word extends to psychology and social contexts: His maladapted coping mechanisms made stress worse.
The opposite of well-adapted, it suggests a mismatch between organism and situation, behavior and need.
Poorly adapted socially
- dysfunctionalNot operating properly
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- copingManaging under strain
- defense mechanismUnconscious self-protective mental process
hypervigilance · avoidance · dissociation · attachment · learned helplessness · conditioning · regression · neurosis
Not appropriate for
- incompatibleUnable to exist together
- unsuitedNot appropriate for
- mismatchedNot fitting together properly
- out of placeNot where it belongs
climate · habitat · niche · invasive species · displacement · acclimatization · transplant · relocation
Not suited for purpose
- misfitOne who doesn't fit in
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
- nonviableIncapable of succeeding
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
reproductive success · speciation · mutation · genetic drift · phenotype · genotype · selection pressure · extinction
maladjusted
Poorly adapted socially
- dysfunctionalNot operating properly
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- copingManaging under strain
defense mechanism · hypervigilance · avoidance · dissociation · attachment · learned helplessness · conditioning · regression · neurosis · emotional dysregulation
ill-suited
Not appropriate for
- incompatibleUnable to exist together
- unsuitedNot appropriate for
- mismatchedNot fitting together properly
out of place · climate · habitat · niche · invasive species · displacement · acclimatization · transplant · relocation · fish out of water
unfit
Not suited for purpose
- misfitOne who doesn't fit in
- disadvantagedLacking social or economic resources
- nonviableIncapable of succeeding
natural selection · reproductive success · speciation · mutation · genetic drift · phenotype · genotype · selection pressure · extinction · survival
maladaptedwell-adapted
Adjusted to conditions
adapted · suited · fit · well-fitted · fitted
maladaptedadjusted
Changed to improve fit
well-adjusted · acclimated · acclimatized · assimilated · integrated
- maladaptive behaviorHarmful patterns undermining wellbeing