Mismatched (Adjective)

Meaning ¹

(of a contest or contestants) not fairly matched as opponents; "vaudeville...waged an uneven battle against the church".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The mismatched boxers stood in the ring, one noticeably larger and more muscular than the other.
• The tournament was criticized for its mismatched seeding, which allowed the top team to breeze through to the finals.
• The politician's mismatched opponents, including several minor candidates and an unexperienced activist, struggled to challenge her campaign promises.
• Critics argued that the recent championship fight was a mismatched affair, pitting a seasoned veteran against a relatively inexperienced upstart.
• The school's basketball league was marred by complaints of mismatched teams, with some teams fielding experienced adult coaches while others had volunteers with little experience.

Synonyms

• Uneven

Meaning ²

Either not matched or unsuitably matched.

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The room had mismatched furniture with a Victorian-era sofa and a modern coffee table.
• She ended up wearing mismatched socks because she couldn't find the matching pair.
• The comedy duo was mismatched with one being experienced and the other a beginner.
• Their personalities were mismatched, with John being introverted and his partner being extroverted.
• The new policy had mismatched goals that clashed with the company's long-term objectives.

Antonyms

• Matched