clownish

adjective

clown·​ish ˈklau̇-nish How to pronounce clownish (audio)
: resembling or befitting a clown (as in ignorance and lack of sophistication)
clownishly adverb
clownishness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for clownish

boorish, churlish, loutish, clownish 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

churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness.

churlish remarks

loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity.

a loutish oaf

clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics.

an adolescent's clownish conduct

Examples of clownish in a Sentence

the clownish antics of some of the teenagers at the wedding reception
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Orange cats, particularly tabbies like Butter, are known for their quirky and often clownish personalities. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025 Each shoe lifts you a full 1.5 inches off the ground, but the upper offers a low profile that keeps them from looking, well, clownish. Gabrielle Kassel, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025 In the mountains of Papua New Guinea, researchers encountered a clownish creature perched on a log in a fern meadow, basking in the sun. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2025 The suit also paints a clownish portrait of the entrepreneur, portraying him as pompous, shameless, and untrustworthy. Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clownish

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clownish was in 1563

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clownish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clownish. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

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