Definition: Generate the answer for a given question. The question requires common knowledge of English. Make sure that the answer is in detail, long, consistent with the context, and requires general knowledge of English. To be less repetitive, please vary your language for each question. Give a proper explanation to answer, and if necessary, provide the definition of various terms. And conclude your answer if it's long. If you have used other resources (e.g., Merriam Webster's.) to answer the question, include citations in your answer. You don't need to paraphrase the context of your resources, but make sure that your answer is consistent and complete.
Input: Sometimes I would like to use the word 'inappropriate' when it simply means not quite appropriate, but it usually seems to have the connotation of extremely not appropriate. For instance, if I wanted to say a person was touching inappropriately, it might not mean they are doing something lewd (e.g. touching private parts), but rather, sitting too close and touching in a professional environment where it doesn't make much sense. Or perhaps it's a meeting where a subordinate is dominating a conversation where multiple higher-ups or people more familiar with the topic should be speaking more. Their speech would not be appropriate, but calling it inappropriate seems to indicate that they were making crass jokes or saying something offensive.
Output:
I think the problem here is that the word 'inappropriate' has acquired certain connotations. As the question says, particularly in a US business context, it has come to mean something heading towards sexual harassment. However, I don't think not appropriate has these connotations. Alternatively, just avoid the moral judgement implicit in discussing the appropriateness of the behaviour. If, for example, you describe somebody's behaviour as unnecessary or excessive ('sitting unnecessarily/excessively close', 'taking up an excessive amount of time at the meeting'), the reader can figure out that the person wasn't behaving in an appropriate way.