uncouth
Americanadjective
-
awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly.
uncouth behavior; an uncouth relative who embarrasses the family.
- Synonyms:
- uncivil, rude, discourteous
- Antonyms:
- courteous
-
strange and ungraceful in appearance or form.
-
unusual or strange.
- Synonyms:
- unfamiliar, odd
adjective
Related Words
See boorish.
Other Word Forms
- uncouthly adverb
- uncouthness noun
Etymology
Origin of uncouth
before 900; Middle English; Old English uncūth ( un- 1, couth 2 ); cognate with Dutch onkond
Explanation
When you're at a fancy dinner party, if you burp after you eat, use your fingers to spread butter on your bread, and hang spoons from your nose, people will probably say you are uncouth, meaning vulgar and ill-mannered. The adjective uncouth comes from Old English and it meant "unfamiliar or not well known." As the meaning developed, the word came to mean "rude, vulgar, or lacking refinement." Interestingly, the word uncouth came first and its antonym, couth, was developed to describe someone who is cultured, polished, and sophisticated. Although couth gets an entry in the dictionary, you will still hear the word uncouth used far more often.
Vocabulary lists containing uncouth
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Anti-Antonyms: Words Without Opposites
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Grade 10, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If it’s uncouth to raise in public, I assure you: lots of people are talking about this privately, because it’s getting hard to ignore.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026
And he’s seen overwhelming support for his shift toward the uncouth.
From Slate • Dec. 10, 2025
These days, “‘Housewives’ trip” is synonymous with the most outlandish, uncouth, highly compelling television that the reality genre has to offer.
From Salon • May 20, 2025
Because of the class associations, mullets were considered uncouth and undesirable for most of my lifetime.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2022
His voice was deep and guttural, yet to Merry’s surprise he spoke the Common Speech, though in a halting fashion, and uncouth words were mingled with it.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
