gauche

American  

[gohsh] / goʊʃ /

adjective

1. lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless.

   Their exquisite manners always make me feel gauche.

   Synonyms:

   uncouth, gross, coarse, maladroit, clumsy, inept

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gauche British  

/ ɡəʊʃ /

adjective

1. lacking ease of manner; tactless

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Other Word Forms

• gauchely adverb
• gaucheness noun

Etymology

Origin of gauche

1745–55; < French: awkward, left; Middle French, derivative of gauchir to turn, veer < Germanic

Example Sentences

“And this: ‘Lady Ashton’s pirate getup was so gauche as to be illegal; quick, somebody, throw her in the brig!’

From Literature

“Sirens” updates that collage portrait, casting the modern billionaire not as gauche but reserved, a misunderstood figure we should trust.

From Salon

In England, though, many fans perceived it as the further desecration of a cornerstone of national culture: a soccer club’s being treated as an investment to be exploited by a gauche American owner.

From New York Times

Pronkstilleven pieces are complex and elaborate — aspirational in the same way foodie socials favor the gauche.

From Salon

Or is it considered inappropriate and gauche to even talk about money?

From Salon