BOORISH Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'boorish' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of boorish are churlish , clownish , and loutish . While all these words mean "uncouth in manners or appearance," boorish implies rudeness of manner due to insensitiveness to others' feelings and unwillingness to be agreeable. // a drunk's boorish behavior

Q: When might 'churlish' be a better fit than 'boorish'?

While the synonyms churlish and boorish are close in meaning, churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness. // churlish remarks

Q: When is it sensible to use 'clownish' instead of 'boorish'?

In some situations, the words clownish and boorish are roughly equivalent. However, clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics. // an adolescent's clownish conduct

Q: When could 'loutish' be used to replace 'boorish'?

The words loutish and boorish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity. // a loutish oaf

boorish

adjective

ˈbu̇r-ish

Definition of boorish next

as in loutish

having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners boorish behavior, such as yelling for service in restaurants

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How does the adjective boorish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of boorish are churlish, clownish, and loutish. While all these words mean "uncouth in manners or appearance," boorish implies rudeness of manner due to insensitiveness to others' feelings and unwillingness to be agreeable.

a drunk's boorish behavior

When might churlish be a better fit than boorish?

While the synonyms churlish and boorish are close in meaning, churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness.

churlish remarks

When is it sensible to use clownish instead of boorish?

In some situations, the words clownish and boorish are roughly equivalent. However, clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics.

an adolescent's clownish conduct

When could loutish be used to replace boorish?

The words loutish and boorish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity.

a loutish oaf

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of boorish In half of this show, Allison appears in a sitcom version of her life, complete with a laugh track implicitly encouraging every boorish behavior of her husband, Kevin (Eric Petersen). —

Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2024 The line from prop bets to increasingly boorish fan behavior at NBA games stemming from fan bets on games to Jontay Porter — and, to worse — is a clear, red, pulsating one. —

David Aldridge, The Athletic, 17 Apr. 2024 Even during the negotiations, Levin’s people found their AOL counterparts boorish and boisterous, while the AOLers thought Time Warner execs were plodding, stodgy and unable to fully comprehend the value of the internet. —

David Hamilton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 Borisov has actually played such a role before, having previously starred as a boorish Russian dude who slowly reveals his softer side in the Finnish romantic comedy Compartment No. 6. —

A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for boorish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for boorish

Adjective

Every great festival lineup needs an eccentric art-pop groundbreaker and some loutish guys who write anthems.

— Al Shipley, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Homer wasn’t fooling around: those who aid the beggar are rewarded, those who mistreat him—the loutish suitors who have long besieged Penelope—are killed.

— Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 22 Nov. 2024