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uncouth

uncouth

10 8.4
Not polite or well behaved in a rough way
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈkuːθ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : tosco
  • His uncouth manners at the dinner table shocked everyone around him.
  • rough and uncouth

I mean, to the Greeks, the Romans are these uncouth, sort of savage Barbarians.

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Examples

  • At heart, she's uncouth, devoid of delicacy.

  • The man shouted at him, but he didn't want to have anything to do with such an uncouth person, so he ignored him.

  • It's probably more uncouth and looked down on generally by society.

  • - He can be a little uncouth sometimes.

  • Your emotions are too delicate at this moment for this uncouth place.

  • I suppose that uncouth young man will appear now and attempt to seduce you.

  • Christof, please pardon my friend's uncouth behavior.

  • You are rude and uncouth and presumptuous and I am leaving now, Jack.

  • Yet the four Sheeby sisters thought he was uncouth, if amusing and talented.

    Academic text (1991)
  • He's dull, he's uncouth and he's extremely human.

Synonyms

common
vsuncouth
  • Offensive
182 5.7

Low quality and often rude in style

is similar but emphasises lack of manners and graceful behaviour
vulgar
vsuncouth
52 6.1

Showing little good taste or refinement in style

is similar but focuses more on manners and grace as well
unbecoming
vsuncouth
  • Formal
15 6.7

Not suitable for a situation or for what people expect

highlights enduring lack of refinement rather than a single inappropriate act
coarse
vsuncouth
  • Offensive
14 4.2

Rude in behaviour or style, showing little politeness and bad taste

emphasises lack of polish rather than only rudeness
uncivil
vsuncouth
9 6.0

Not polite and rude to other people

is not only rude but also uncultured or coarse in style
ill-mannered
vsuncouth
5 3.9

Rude and impolite in how someone talks or acts

is broader, also covering coarse or uncultured looks
ungracious
vsuncouth
4 6.7

Rude and not polite or kind

is broader, stressing coarse manners or uncultured appearance
oafish
vsuncouth
  • Offensive
2 8.2

Clumsy and rude in the way someone moves or acts

is broader, covering coarse appearance and uncultured social style
unrefined
vsuncouth
  • Offensive
1 6.0

A person who lacks good manners or social skills

is the broader label for coarse, uncultured behaviour or appearance
indecorous
vsuncouth
  • Formal
1 9.2

Not showing good manners in public or formal places

is more general, pointing to ongoing coarse or uncultured behaviour
ungentlemanly
vsuncouth
1 7.0

Rude or unfair behavior that shows little respect for others

is wider, applying to anyone showing coarse or uncultured conduct
unmannerly
vsuncouth
1 6.3

Not polite and often rude to others

includes that rudeness but emphasises lack of polish or grace
ungallant
vsuncouth
1 9.1

Not polite or kind to other people

covers that discourtesy plus coarse manners or uncultured appearance
ill-bred
vsuncouth
  • Offensive
1 7.1

Rude and showing bad manners

covers general lack of refinement rather than ancestry or upbringing
bad-mannered
vsuncouth
1 3.3

Not polite when you are with other people

is wider, including coarse appearance and uncultured style too
unmannered
vsuncouth
1 7.2

Not showing good manners toward others

adds a sense of coarse or uncultured appearance as well
unchivalrous
vsuncouth
1 8.6

Not polite or kind to someone in a social situation

is broader, describing general lack of refinement and good manners
rough-cut
vsuncouth
6.8

Not polished in style or manners

focuses more on social manners and graceful behaviour rather than polish
agrestic
vsuncouth
  • Offensive
9.9

Having rough manners that seem rude in polite places

is not only rural in tone but denotes general uncultured behaviour
untactful
vsuncouth
7.2

Not careful about other people's feelings when you speak or act, making others feel bad

is wider, including coarse looks and general lack of refinement
uncomely
vsuncouth
  • Archaic
9.6

Not proper in dress or behavior in polite company

is broader, implying an overall uncultured or coarse character
ungentlemanlike
vsuncouth
8.0

Not acting politely or respectfully toward others

is broader, covering uncultured appearance as well as impolite acts
unchivalric
vsuncouth
9.1

Not polite or brave in the way people expect from a knight

is the general term for coarse, unrefined social behaviour
ungenteel
vsuncouth
  • Archaic
9.9

Not polite and not showing good manners

is the broader label for coarse, uncultured social conduct

Antonyms

5 5.1

A person who likes and understands art, music, and books

refined
  • Formal
4 4.1

Showing elegant, polite manners and good taste

How Uncouth

barbaric
61 6.3
vulgar
  • Offensive
22 6.5
uncouth
  • Offensive
10 8.4
coarse
  • Offensive
14 4.2

Surface Forms

uncouth positive
uncouther comparative
uncouthest superlative

Morphology

uncouth = couth (opaque) = un + couth

Although formed by the productive prefix 'un-' plus the root 'couth', the root is archaic/rare and the modern sense 'lacking refinement' has drifted, so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning from components.

Etymology

Uncouth comes from old English parts un- 'not' and couth 'known', just like in unknown, so it first meant 'not known' or 'strange'. So uncouth now describes someone or something 'not polite' or 'rough', because being strange came to mean lacking good manners.