unsuitably adapted or adapting poorly to (a situation, purpose, etc)
2.
not encouraging adaptation
Derived forms
maladapted (ˌmalaˈdapted)
adjective
maladaptively (ˌmalaˈdaptively)
adverb
maladaptive in American English
(ˌmæləˈdæptɪv)
adjective
of, pertaining to, or characterized by maladaptation
The maladaptive behavior of isolated children was difficult to change
Word origin
[1930–35; mal- + adaptive]
Examples of 'maladaptive' in a sentence
maladaptive
And for more than 20 years, clinicians have talked about the maladaptive personality.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He diagnosed maladaptive grief and sent me to see a psychologist.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Addictions are coping strategies, but they are maladaptive (unhealthy) ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
And to do this successfully she needs to understand what underpins this maladaptive behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some have suggested it is a maladaptive reaction to viral infection, others that it is psychological.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The way we cope with the blows of life can be adaptive (healthy) and maladaptive (unhealthy).
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
They are all maladaptive ways of coping that offer short-term relief but create more entrenched difficulties.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The self-harm is not just a maladaptive way of coping but also an expression of self-hatred and self-blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are nit-pickers with low emotional intelligence and zero creativity — maladaptive perfectionists, hypercritical passive-aggressives, all-or-nothingthinkers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Researchers have recently tried to spell out traits that are most clearly manifest in the maladaptive personality.