Being formal or ceremonious in a stiff, overly procedural way; lacking naturalness in speech or behavior.
彼女の挨拶は形式ばった印象が強く、親しみを感じにくかった。
Her greeting felt very formal and it was hard to feel any warmth.
形式ばった言い回しは若い世代には堅苦しく聞こえることが多い。
Formal phrasing often sounds stiff to younger generations.
ビジネス文書では形式ばった表現が好まれる場面もあるが、簡潔で明確な表現も重要だ。
In business documents, formal expressions are sometimes preferred, but concise and clear wording is also important.