boorish

adjective

boor·​ish ˈbu̇r-ish How to pronounce boorish (audio)
: resembling or befitting a rude or insensitive person : resembling or befitting a boor
boorish remarks
boorishly adverb
boorishness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for boorish

boorish, churlish, loutish, clownish mean uncouth in manners or appearance.

boorish implies rudeness of manner due to insensitiveness to others' feelings and unwillingness to be agreeable.

a drunk's boorish behavior

churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness.

churlish remarks

loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity.

a loutish oaf

clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics.

an adolescent's clownish conduct

Examples of boorish in a Sentence

boorish behavior, such as yelling for service in restaurants
Recent Examples on the Web Joe is sometimes boorish and clueless about her needs and priorities. Melena Ryzik, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2024 Social media posts and story headlines often highlighted examples of raucous fans: excessive drinking, boorish behavior, even the occasional fight. Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Only slightly less reliant on anything-for-a-laugh gags than 1995's Billy Madison (there's still room for a cursed alligator and a fistfight with game show host Bob Barker), Happy Gilmore introduces shades of the sweetness warring with the typical Sandler character's boorish clowning. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2023 When one particularly boorish passenger — Michael Gladis’ Keith — is found harpooned in his quarters, Rufus and Imogene realize the case may have connections to the murder that brought them together decades earlier. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2024 He is portrayed as an ill-mannered and boorish usurper. Zenger News, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Others are from people who did not attend but were no less appalled, and outraged, that such boorish behavior took place at the expense of so many. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Oct. 2023 Ives transposes the action to an America of rampant affluence and ghastly superficiality, populated by boorish Wall Street titans (Cannavale) and shady plastic surgeons (Shamos) and drug-dealing diplomats (Pasquale) and tightly wound Hollywood agents (Gray). Peter Marks, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023 In other words, the end to DeSantis’ boorish, charisma-free performance on the campaign trail would be a public health boon. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boorish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see boor

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boorish was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near boorish

Cite this Entry

“Boorish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boorish. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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