clownish
adjective
Synonyms
- boorish
- churlish
- classless
- cloddish
- loutish
- uncouth
Example Sentences
Anna Mundow, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 But some of his clothes have occasionally been too clownish, not living up to the spirit of aggressive delight the designer himself imparts. Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 June 2022 Perhaps McKay’s taste for clownish characterization explains it. New York Times, 25 May 2022 By the end of the video, Cat and her friends dramatically lose the clown ‘fits and enjoy their fast-food meal outside the restaurant and in their clownish car. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2022 These shows challenge not only the predominance of coming-of-age narratives about white male adolescents but also the longstanding typecasting of Black boys onscreen as impoverished, clownish, hyper-violent or otherwise threatening. New York Times, 21 Dec. 2021 The cast of challengers included clownish pretenders and tired retreads. Steve Lopez Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2021 With clownish red lips, ears pointing straight out, eyes fixed in a dazed stare and hands outstretched, the figurines were grotesque caricatures of Black men. Makeda Easter Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2021 Extending every measure of good faith to Fox’s clownish right-wing personalities, Greenwald is just as ruthless and unforgiving with his enemies, who now seem to be everywhere. Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, 2 July 2021 See More Word History
1563, in the meaning defined above
clownish
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- boorish
- stupid
- loutish
- uncouth
- cloddish
- classless
- churlish
- vulgar
- unsophisticated
- oafish
- awkward
- doltish
- rude
- bestial
- unpolished
- tasteless
- coarse
- unrefined
- beastly
- discourteous
- ill-bred
- ungainly
- ungracious
- uncivil
- unmannerly
- mannerless
- impolite
- uncultivated
- misleared
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sophisticated
- polished
- classy
- refined
- gentlemanly
- genteel
- courtly
- cultivated
- civil
- well-bred
- couth
- polite
- ladylike
- courteous
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of clownish are boorish, churlish, and loutish. While all these words mean "uncouth in manners or appearance," clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics.
The meanings of boorish and clownish largely overlap; however, boorish implies rudeness of manner due to insensitiveness to others' feelings and unwillingness to be agreeable.
The synonyms churlish and clownish are sometimes interchangeable, but churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness.
Although the words loutish and clownish have much in common, loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity.