uncouth

[ uhn-kooth ]

adjective

1. awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly:

   uncouth behavior; an uncouth relative who embarrasses the family.

   Synonyms: uncivil, rude, discourteous

   Antonyms: courteous

2. strange and ungraceful in appearance or form.
3. unusual or strange.

   Synonyms: unfamiliar, odd

uncouth

/ ʌnˈkuːθ /

adjective

1. lacking in good manners, refinement, or grace

Derived Forms

• unˈcouthness, noun
• unˈcouthly, adverb

Other Words From

• un·couthly adverb
• un·couthness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of uncouth¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English uncūth ( un- ¹, couth ² ); cognate with Dutch onkond

Word History and Origins

Origin of uncouth¹

Old English uncūth, from un- ¹+ cūth familiar; related to Old High German kund known, Old Norse kunnr

Synonym Study

See boorish.

Example Sentences

If his puerile social media posts, uncouth behavior and playground insults were unpresidential, the thinking went, well, that showed a certain authenticity and a willingness to overturn convention and break some china that badly needed breaking.

From Los Angeles Times

"From the very start, Jesus was engaging with the lowliest of the low, the shepherds, who were out on the literal margins of society, smelly, uncouth folks out there tending smelly animals," Rev. Nathan Empsall, an Episcopal priest and executive director of national Christian organization Faithful America, said in an interview.

From Salon

It was classic Alatorre: uncompromising, uncouth and unapologetic in the name of exerting his influence to better Latinos.

From Los Angeles Times

“Mary & George” strikes a desirable balance, delivering a little of the unexpected and uncouth in welcome spots, especially where the randy bits are concerned.

From Salon

For as long as this court is controlled by a six-justice conservative supermajority, lurking beneath the surface of First Amendment cases like these is the tension between the justices’ vigilance about the excesses of cancel culture on the one hand, and their distaste for speech they personally find rude or uncouth on the other.

From Slate