uncouth

[ uhn-kooth ]

adjective

1. awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly:

   uncouth behavior; an uncouth relative who embarrasses the family.

   Synonyms: uncivil, rude, discourteous

   Antonyms: courteous

2. strange and ungraceful in appearance or form.
3. unusual or strange.

   Synonyms: unfamiliar, odd

uncouth

/ ʌnˈkuːθ /

adjective

1. lacking in good manners, refinement, or grace

Derived Forms

• unˈcouthly, adverb
• unˈcouthness, noun

Other Words From

• un·couthly adverb
• un·couthness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of uncouth¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English uncūth ( un- ¹, couth ² ); cognate with Dutch onkond

Word History and Origins

Origin of uncouth¹

Old English uncūth, from un- ¹+ cūth familiar; related to Old High German kund known, Old Norse kunnr

Synonym Study

See boorish.

Example Sentences

They are defensive, uncouth, and destructive for the industry.

From Search Engine Land

Because while calling a passerby “sexy” may be uncouth, it shouldn't be illegal.

From The Daily Beast

The result is that it would be difficult, and somewhat uncouth, to criticize the president on policy grounds.

From The Daily Beast

A child who masters the classics will stand apart from the uncouth boors on the school bus.

From The Daily Beast

This obsession is socially uncouth, politically counterproductive and, too often, unwittingly revealing.

From The Daily Beast

Sarkozy is known for running—television crews often film him, sweaty and uncouth, as he jogs in an NYPD t-shirt.

From The Daily Beast

The roof and sides of this snug retreat were also entirely covered with the uncouth figures I have already described.

From Project Gutenberg

The wild, uncouth Caliban, the wonderful flights of Ariel—these are creations of the first order.

From Project Gutenberg

He inquired for her, creating some astonishment by his uncouth appearance and unsteady manner.

From Project Gutenberg

If there were something rude and uncouth in old Schiller, it was amply compensated by his noble spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

This was chanted lightly, airily, with a sweetness almost absurd, coming as it did from so uncouth a musician.

From Project Gutenberg