gauche

adjective

ˈgōsh

sometimes gaucher; sometimes gauchest

: lacking social experience or grace

also : not tactful : crude

it would be gauche to mention the subject

: crudely made or done

a gauche turn of phrase

: not planar

gauche conformation of molecules

gauchely adverb

gaucheness noun

Did you know?

Gauche and Being Left-Handed

Gauche is one of several words that come from old suspicions or negative associations surrounding the left side and use of the left hand. In French, gauche literally means "left," and it has the extended meanings "awkward" and "clumsy." These meanings may have come about because left-handed people could appear awkward trying to manage in a right-handed world, or perhaps they came about because right-handed people appear awkward when they try to use their left hand. In fact, awkward comes from the Middle English awke, meaning "turned the wrong way" or "left-handed." On the other hand, adroit and dexterity have their roots in words meaning "right" or "on the right side."

Example Sentences

Among élite scientists, it was usually considered gauche to be obsessed with anything so tangible or immediate: brilliant discoveries were supposed to percolate.

Michael Specter, New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2007 … furnished it with, among other things, an embarrassingly gauche, oversized Roman Catholic basilica rumored to be larger even than St. Peter's in Vatican City …

Marc A. Schindler, Verbatim, Spring 1992 We were suburban housewives and mothers. As poets we took a respectful backseat to the male poets. We did not talk about our husbands and children in public; that would have been gauche indeed.

Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987 So lofty was her depreciatory manner that I felt myself gauche and was put on the defensive.

Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984 Would it be gauche of me to ask her how old she is? his loud talking at the opera marked him as gauche and uncultured See More

Recent Examples on the Web That would be too gauche, too legislative for the court.

Matt Ford, The New Republic, 19 May 2022 Dear Looking: Greeting your host with your Gladware out and at the ready is definitely gauche.

Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2021 Maybe French tips aren't gauche for the Met Gala, after all.

Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 8 June 2018 Another newspaper innovation introduced by Nicholson was a society column, which was seen by some in the city as gauche and bordering on scandalous.

NOLA.com, 24 Jan. 2018 However, purists view purchasing king cakes before Jan. 6 as a demonstration of gauche impatience.

NOLA.com, 5 Jan. 2018 Today, mass production and an abundance of cheap knockoffs have rendered conspicuous consumption unremarkable at best and gauche at worst.

J.c. Pan, New Republic, 1 Aug. 2017 Old money, historically, has been stereotyped as having a Brahmin disdain for such a gauche topic.

Paul Sullivan, New York Times, 19 May 2017 See More

gauche

adjective

as in awkward

lacking social grace and assurance his loud talking at the opera marked him as gauche and uncultured

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

awkward
uncomfortable
clumsy
uneasy
embarrassed
inelegant
ungraceful
timid
graceless
wooden
rustic
stilted
stiff
uncouth
boorish
upset
flustered
ungainly
gawky
nervous
clownish
angular
meek
disturbed
rustical
lubberly
agitated
rough-hewn
diffident
abashed
unsettled
disconcerted
discomposed
discomfited
mortified
perturbed
nonplussed
unhinged
distressed
discomforted
modest
bothered
insecure
unassertive
unassuming
chagrined
self-conscious
discountenanced
fazed
jumpy
unpretentious
disquieted
jittery
dismayed
rattled
nonplused
self-doubting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

graceful
suave
urbane
composed
cool
confident
unperturbed
placid
serene
poised
collected
calm
undisturbed
secure
tranquil
assured
self-assured
self-possessed
self-confident

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of gauche are awkward, clumsy, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

The words awkward and gauche can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

The synonyms clumsy and gauche are sometimes interchangeable, but clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

While in some cases nearly identical to gauche, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

The words maladroit and gauche are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

单词	gauche
释义	gauche adjective ˈgōsh sometimes gaucher; sometimes gauchest 1 a : lacking social experience or grace also : not tactful : crude it would be gauche to mention the subject b : crudely made or done a gauche turn of phrase 2 : not planar gauche conformation of molecules gauchely adverb gaucheness noun Did you know? Gauche and Being Left-Handed Gauche is one of several words that come from old suspicions or negative associations surrounding the left side and use of the left hand. In French, gauche literally means "left," and it has the extended meanings "awkward" and "clumsy." These meanings may have come about because left-handed people could appear awkward trying to manage in a right-handed world, or perhaps they came about because right-handed people appear awkward when they try to use their left hand. In fact, awkward comes from the Middle English awke, meaning "turned the wrong way" or "left-handed." On the other hand, adroit and dexterity have their roots in words meaning "right" or "on the right side." Synonyms awkward clumsy graceless inelegant rough-hewn rustic rustical stiff stilted uncomfortable uneasy ungraceful wooden See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Among élite scientists, it was usually considered gauche to be obsessed with anything so tangible or immediate: brilliant discoveries were supposed to percolate. Michael Specter, New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2007 … furnished it with, among other things, an embarrassingly gauche, oversized Roman Catholic basilica rumored to be larger even than St. Peter's in Vatican City … Marc A. Schindler, Verbatim, Spring 1992 We were suburban housewives and mothers. As poets we took a respectful backseat to the male poets. We did not talk about our husbands and children in public; that would have been gauche indeed. Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987 So lofty was her depreciatory manner that I felt myself gauche and was put on the defensive. Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984 Would it be gauche of me to ask her how old she is? his loud talking at the opera marked him as gauche and uncultured See More Recent Examples on the Web That would be too gauche, too legislative for the court. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 19 May 2022 Dear Looking: Greeting your host with your Gladware out and at the ready is definitely gauche. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2021 Maybe French tips aren't gauche for the Met Gala, after all. Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 8 June 2018 Another newspaper innovation introduced by Nicholson was a society column, which was seen by some in the city as gauche and bordering on scandalous. NOLA.com, 24 Jan. 2018 However, purists view purchasing king cakes before Jan. 6 as a demonstration of gauche impatience. NOLA.com, 5 Jan. 2018 Today, mass production and an abundance of cheap knockoffs have rendered conspicuous consumption unremarkable at best and gauche at worst. J.c. Pan, New Republic, 1 Aug. 2017 Old money, historically, has been stereotyped as having a Brahmin disdain for such a gauche topic. Paul Sullivan, New York Times, 19 May 2017 See More Word History Etymology French, literally, left First Known Use 1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1a gauche adjective as in awkward lacking social grace and assurance his loud talking at the opera marked him as gauche and uncultured Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance awkward uncomfortable clumsy uneasy embarrassed inelegant ungraceful timid graceless wooden rustic stilted stiff uncouth boorish upset flustered ungainly gawky nervous clownish angular meek disturbed rustical lubberly agitated rough-hewn diffident abashed unsettled disconcerted discomposed discomfited mortified perturbed nonplussed unhinged distressed discomforted modest bothered insecure unassertive unassuming chagrined self-conscious discountenanced fazed jumpy unpretentious disquieted jittery dismayed rattled nonplused self-doubting Antonyms & Near Antonyms graceful suave urbane composed cool confident unperturbed placid serene poised collected calm undisturbed secure tranquil assured self-assured self-possessed self-confident See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of gauche are awkward, clumsy, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding. felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties The words awkward and gauche can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact. periods of awkward silence The synonyms clumsy and gauche are sometimes interchangeable, but clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill. a clumsy mechanic While in some cases nearly identical to gauche, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy. a hopelessly inept defense attorney The words maladroit and gauche are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations. a maladroit politician
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gauche

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective

Synonym Chooser