boorish

[ boor-ish ]

adjective

1. of or like a boor; unmannered; crude; insensitive.

   Synonyms: churlish, loutish, uncouth, coarse

   Antonyms: refined

boorish

/ ˈbʊərɪʃ /

adjective

1. ill-mannered, clumsy, or insensitive; rude

Derived Forms

• ˈboorishness, noun
• ˈboorishly, adverb

Other Words From

• boorish·ly adverb
• boorish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of boorish¹

First recorded in 1555–65; boor + -ish ¹

Synonym Study

Boorish, oafish, rude, uncouth all describe persons, acts, manners, or mannerisms that violate in some way the generally accepted canons of polite, considerate behavior. Boorish, originally referring to behavior characteristic of an unlettered rustic or peasant, now implies a coarse and blatant lack of sensitivity to the feelings or values of others: a boorish refusal to acknowledge greetings. Oafish suggests slow-witted, loutlike, clumsy behavior: oafish table manners. Rude has the widest scope of meaning of these words; it suggests either purposefully impudent discourtesy or, less frequently, a rough crudity of appearance or manner: a rude remark; a rude thatched hut. Uncouth stresses most strongly in modern use a lack of good manners, whether arising from ignorance or brashness: uncouth laughter; an uncouth way of staring at strangers.

Example Sentences

Costa was to prove himself equally boorish when, ten minutes into the second-half, he headbutted Martins Indi, a Dutch midfielder.

From The Daily Beast

Consequently, he was booed every time he touched the ball by the boorish, and unforgiving, Brazilians in the crowd.

From The Daily Beast

Octopus is one of those sleazy and boorish Americans whose instincts prove correct.

From The Daily Beast

The commercial culture will tolerate multiple divorces, trips to rehab, and all sorts of boorish behavior.

From The Daily Beast

All those messy emotions, the obsessive thoughts, the clenched teeth, are considered boorish and barbaric.

From The Daily Beast

Have you come again to disturb me to no purpose, and to bring me some boorish fellow, as you did just now?

From Project Gutenberg

Most young people think they are natural when they are only boorish and rude.

From Project Gutenberg

Only vacant or boorish faces met her eyes; it was not a high-class crowd that had come to see the Two-headed Girl.

From Project Gutenberg

Beginning by viewing the Colonel in sulky silence, he had answered his kinsman's overtures only by a rude stare or a boorish word.

From Project Gutenberg

We became particularly hot upon some boorish sneer of Drummle's, to the effect that we were too free with our money.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• barbaric
• churlish
• coarse
• impolite
• rude
• tasteless
• uncivilized
• vulgar