churlish

[chur-lish]

See more synonyms for churlish on Thesaurus.com

adjective

like a churl; boorish; rude: churlish behavior.
of a churl; peasantlike.
niggardly; mean.

difficult to work or deal with, as soil.

Origin of churlish

before 1000; Middle English cherlish, Old English ceorlisc. See churl, -ish¹

Related formschurl·ish·ly, adverbchurl·ish·ness, nounun·churl·ish, adjectiveun·churl·ish·ly, adverbun·churl·ish·ness, noun

Synonyms for churlish

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1. coarse, uncouth, vulgar, loutish; ill-natured, uncivil.

Antonyms for churlish

1. courteous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for churlish

grumpy, uncivilized, sullen, rude, ornery, base, blunt, brusque, cantankerous, crude, crusty, curt, discourteous, dour, grouchy, gruff, harsh, ill-tempered, impolite, loutish

Examples from the Web for churlish

Contemporary Examples of churlish

His churlish attack created a media storm that the Republican Party got dragged into and which has hurt the image of the party.
The Real Problem with Sandra Fluke (Hint: It has Nothing to Do with her Sex Life)
Noah Kristula-Green
March 6, 2012
This is the thin-skinned Gucci model Franco who hurls tweeted insults with the churlish gusto of Kanye West.
The James Franco Backlash
Chris Lee
March 23, 2011
Petraeus, the long-suffering hero of the Surge, now transcends all but the most churlish criticisms.
Confirmation: The Easy Part
Ken Allard
June 29, 2010

Historical Examples of churlish

She was helpless, and he experienced a churlish satisfaction in her condition.
The Strollers
Frederic S. Isham
Cold, churlish, sticky or clammy clays are never to the liking of the grape.
Manual of American Grape-Growing
U. P. Hedrick
What a churlish idea it was to erect these barricades, Miss Dill!
Barrington
Charles James Lever
I was sorry for my churlish speech, and feared it had given her offence.
Sir Ludar
Talbot Baines Reed
It would have been churlish and inexpedient after this to insist on further conversation.
"Unto Caesar"
Baroness Emmuska Orczy

British Dictionary definitions for churlish

churlish

adjective

rude or surly
of or relating to peasants
miserly

Derived Formschurlishly, adverbchurlishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for churlish

adj.

late Old English cierlisc "of or pertaining to churls," from churl + -ish. Meaning "deliberately rude" is late 14c. Related: Churlishly; churlishness.