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

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of boorish Cotter did not delve into many of McClain’s more boorish comments on the recordings, however, including one where McClain mocked a Peoples Gas executive who’d complained about being pressured to make a political hire. —

Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025 Queen Elizabeth always preferred the boorish Andrew to the sensitive Charles. —

airmail.news, 23 Nov. 2024 Naturally, the media hyped the event as Bart versus Bill, a showdown between one show’s wholesome family values and the other’s brash, boorish cynicism — the aspirational ’80s facing off against the anarchic ’90s. —

Darryn King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024 The Globes have remade themselves over the past few years, going from a model of old-school corruption (bribery, being boorish around celebrities) to a more accountable organization whose corruption now has a friendly modern face. —

Jen Chaney, Vulture, 9 Dec. 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