ungracious

American  

[uhn-grey-shuhs] / ʌnˈgreɪ ʃəs /

adjective

1. discourteous; ill-mannered.

   ungracious behavior.

2. unpleasant; disagreeable; unrewarding.

   an ungracious task.

3. ungraceful; unpleasing.

---

ungracious British  

/ ʌnˈɡreɪʃəs /

adjective

1. not characterized by or showing kindness and courtesy

---

Other Word Forms

• ungraciously adverb
• ungraciousness noun

Etymology

Origin of ungracious

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at un- ¹, gracious

Example Sentences

But instead of asking, Ed makes a unilateral decision, conveyed by his wife, and we are forced to comply or seem ungracious and risk offending them.

From Washington Post • Jan. 29, 2023

James Corden has admitted he was "ungracious" to a restaurant server in an incident which saw him temporarily banned from New York eatery Balthazar.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2022

“I made a rude comment, and it was wrong. It was an unnecessary comment. It was ungracious to the server.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2022

Indeed, while the first Adams may have been ungracious by skipping Jefferson's inauguration, he did something of tremendous historical consequence by handing over power at all.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2021

She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen