as in boorish
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners
the clownish antics of some of the teenagers at the wedding reception
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clownish
Both McAdams and O’Brien move beyond expectations to deliver highly expressive, almost clownish performances — in the best way.
—
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
All the forces and clownish figures of the moment, from Howard Stern to Al Sharpton, weighed in.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Pratt, who long cultivated a clownish and villainous persona, leveraged his significant social media presence following the fire to refashion himself as an earnest mix of citizen watchdog and populist firebrand.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Switcheroo is all snappy disco, clownish house, and musical sight gags.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clownish
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
All the forces and clownish figures of the moment, from Howard Stern to Al Sharpton, weighed in.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Pratt, who long cultivated a clownish and villainous persona, leveraged his significant social media presence following the fire to refashion himself as an earnest mix of citizen watchdog and populist firebrand.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 7 Jan. 2026
Switcheroo is all snappy disco, clownish house, and musical sight gags.
—Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clownish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clownish
Adjective
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The doc goes on to note that, along with boorish audiences, record labels were also wary of Culture Club, even though their aesthetic was very much in the early Eighties new wave and pop mold.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
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In New York, an inspiring young leftist competed against a boorish, but experienced, former governor to replace a corrupt mayor.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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The pyrotechnics, however, come from Amanda and Danielle, who get in one of those stupid fights that are only possible after a full day of drinking in a retro vehicle.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
-
Yes, Ken really is this stupid.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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And any expression otherwise is so taboo or deemed uncouth, and we aren’t allowed to talk about it in our art and media.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
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Those songs both ended with squalls of noise, hinting at Bash’s interest in more uncouth arrangements.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And Trump’s domineering, loutish approach to women spoke to its adherents in a way that few, if any, of his rivals could match.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
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The nation and the world have long since become accustomed to Trump’s loutish behavior, coarse vocabulary and disrespect for the dignity of his office and America’s reputation.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Avs did right by MacFarland in granting him permission to interview, unlike the petty and classless Golden Knights, who continue to hold former coach Bruce Cassidy hostage.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
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Some of the reaction to his death was also classless.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But this churlish little spurt from his players?—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Most of that action is on the Democratic side and the sniping is getting downright churlish as we near the March 17 primary elections.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This isn’t about the vulgar prices now being charged to get into the building and Celebrity Row.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
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But this original iteration of Call Her Daddy was vulgar, transgressive, and short-lived.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clownish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clownish. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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