gaucheness - Glite Dictionary

Examples

But despite the gaucheness of weddings, equal-rights opponents still argue that legalizing marriage between two men or two women is a slippery slope:

Blog text (8)
To me, it wasn't just gaucheness, but a prolonged, petulant fit he threw because Romney had disappointed him in some way (no VP bid?) .

Blog text (9)
His habitual gaucheness made him the center of awkward moments at social events.
She tried to overcome her gaucheness by practicing her conversation skills.

Synonyms

awkwardness

vsgaucheness

25 4.5

A feeling of embarrassment or discomfort in social situations

covers the same idea but stresses lack of tact and refinement

crudity

vsgaucheness

NSFW

1 8.1

Rude words or actions that show little respect for other people

focuses on awkward social skill and lack of finesse rather than coarseness

boorishness

vsgaucheness

1 8.1

Rude, insensitive behavior that ignores good manners

is milder, pointing to awkward tactlessness rather than deliberate meanness

crudeness

vsgaucheness

NSFW

1 6.3

Rude, vulgar, or insensitive behaviour that upsets people

is less about vulgarity and more about simple social awkwardness

gaucherie

vsgaucheness

9.9

Awkward or rude behavior in social situations that makes people feel uncomfortable

is a broader personal quality including lack of refinement and tact

gawkiness

vsgaucheness

7.4

Clumsy movement or posture that looks uncomfortable

focuses more on social tact and overall refinement rather than motion

gracelessness

vsgaucheness

7.1

A lack of smooth, polite movement or social behavior

emphasizes social tact and personal refinement more than physical grace

oafishness

vsgaucheness

8.3

Clumsy, awkward actions that make other people feel uncomfortable

is about social tact and refined manners rather than mere clumsiness

unseemliness

vsgaucheness

8.6

A way someone acts or looks that seems not proper in public

focuses on lack of social tact and refined manners rather than mere impropriety

uncouthness

vsgaucheness

8.7

Behavior that is rude and shows bad manners in social situations

highlights awkward lack of tact rather than deliberate rude behavior

grobian behavior

vsgaucheness

Archaic

9.9

Rude actions that show bad manners and offend others

is more about shy awkwardness and lack of refinement than open rudeness

gimboid behavior

vsgaucheness

Offensive

9.9

To act in an awkward, silly way that makes others feel embarrassed or annoyed

is broader, stressing a general lack of social tact and polish

Antonyms

tact

26 3.5

To say or do things carefully so you do not upset other people

refinement

10 5.9

A polished, elegant way of acting that shows good taste

gracefulness

1 3.2

A smooth, attractive way of moving like a dancer or swan

How Awkward

uncouthness

8.7

tactlessness

7.5

gaucheness

8.6

awkwardness

25 4.5

Surface Forms

gaucheness singular

gauchenesses plural

Morphology

gaucheness = gauche (transparent) = gauche + ness

Formed by regular nominalization of the adjective 'gauche' with the productive suffix '-ness', so the noun directly denotes the quality of being gauche.

Etymology

Gaucheness comes from the French word gauche, which means 'left'. Long ago, being 'left' was often seen as clumsy, so gauche came to mean 'awkward', and the ending -ness makes it the 'quality' of being awkward. So gaucheness today means being socially clumsy or lacking grace.