uncouth

adjective

un·couth ən-ˈküth How to pronounce uncouth (audio)

: awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior : rude

: lacking in polish and grace : rugged

uncouth verse

: strange or clumsy in shape or appearance : outlandish

archaic : not known or not familiar to one : seldom experienced : uncommon, rare

obsolete : mysterious, uncanny

uncouthly adverb

uncouthness noun

Did you know?

History of Uncouth: From Unfamiliar to Outlandish

Uncouth comes from Old English cūth, meaning "familiar" or "known," prefixed by un-, giving the meaning "unfamiliar." How did a word that meant "unfamiliar" come to mean "outlandish," "rugged," or "rude"? Some examples from literature illustrate that the transition happened quite naturally. In Captain Singleton, Daniel Defoe refers to "a strange noise more uncouth than any they had ever heard." In William Shakespeare's As You Like It, Orlando tells Adam, "If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee." In Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane fears "to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him!" So, that which is unfamiliar is often perceived as strange, wild, or unpleasant. Meanings such as "outlandish," "rugged," or "rude" naturally follow.

Example Sentences

People thought he was uncouth and uncivilized. will not tolerate any uncouth behavior, such as eating with one's mouth open

Recent Examples on the Web One time, my wife and I were seated at a hibachi table with a very strange and uncouth man, his date and her two uncomfortable tween daughters.

Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 In a sense, your heightened reward inadvertently shines a light on your AI and prods a slew of uncouth moths to correspondingly be perniciously attracted to the glowing light beam.

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 16 July 2022 Where her husband was brash and often uncouth, Ms. Trump came across to the city’s moneyed elite as charming and sophisticated, opening doors to rarefied social circles that Mr. Trump could then barrel through.

New York Times, 14 July 2022 The Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro earbuds are amazing value for money and produce a sound that’s big and bold but never uncouth or unruly.

Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 4 June 2022 When it was published, in 1949, his level of disclosure was still considered uncouth, and Gunther knew it.

Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 3 June 2022 At the very least, this tweet is uncouth by business standards.

Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 13 May 2022 Mahershala Ali plays a Black pianist touring the Jim Crow South and Viggo Mortensen is his uncouth driver in a feel-good film about race relations with a whitewashed perspective.

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2022 While many of Silicon Valley’s wealthy would distance themselves from this uncouth Trumpy identification with fossil fuels, Andreessen is a good example of how petromasculinity can operate in a white-collar context, as well.

Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 11 Apr. 2022 See More

单词	uncouthness
释义	uncouth adjective un·couth ən-ˈküth 1 a : awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior : rude b : lacking in polish and grace : rugged uncouth verse c : strange or clumsy in shape or appearance : outlandish 2 a archaic : not known or not familiar to one : seldom experienced : uncommon, rare b obsolete : mysterious, uncanny uncouthly adverb uncouthness noun Did you know? History of Uncouth: From Unfamiliar to Outlandish Uncouth comes from Old English cūth, meaning "familiar" or "known," prefixed by un-, giving the meaning "unfamiliar." How did a word that meant "unfamiliar" come to mean "outlandish," "rugged," or "rude"? Some examples from literature illustrate that the transition happened quite naturally. In Captain Singleton, Daniel Defoe refers to "a strange noise more uncouth than any they had ever heard." In William Shakespeare's As You Like It, Orlando tells Adam, "If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee." In Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane fears "to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him!" So, that which is unfamiliar is often perceived as strange, wild, or unpleasant. Meanings such as "outlandish," "rugged," or "rude" naturally follow. Synonyms boorish churlish classless cloddish clownish loutish See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences People thought he was uncouth and uncivilized. will not tolerate any uncouth behavior, such as eating with one's mouth open Recent Examples on the Web One time, my wife and I were seated at a hibachi table with a very strange and uncouth man, his date and her two uncomfortable tween daughters. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 In a sense, your heightened reward inadvertently shines a light on your AI and prods a slew of uncouth moths to correspondingly be perniciously attracted to the glowing light beam. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 16 July 2022 Where her husband was brash and often uncouth, Ms. Trump came across to the city’s moneyed elite as charming and sophisticated, opening doors to rarefied social circles that Mr. Trump could then barrel through. New York Times, 14 July 2022 The Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro earbuds are amazing value for money and produce a sound that’s big and bold but never uncouth or unruly. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 4 June 2022 When it was published, in 1949, his level of disclosure was still considered uncouth, and Gunther knew it. Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 3 June 2022 At the very least, this tweet is uncouth by business standards. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 13 May 2022 Mahershala Ali plays a Black pianist touring the Jim Crow South and Viggo Mortensen is his uncouth driver in a feel-good film about race relations with a whitewashed perspective. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2022 While many of Silicon Valley’s wealthy would distance themselves from this uncouth Trumpy identification with fossil fuels, Andreessen is a good example of how petromasculinity can operate in a white-collar context, as well. Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 11 Apr. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Old English uncūth, from un- + cūth familiar, known; akin to Old High German kund known, Old English can know — more at can entry 1 First Known Use before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a Kids Definition uncouth adjective un·couth ˌən-ˈküth : impolite in conduct or speech : crude uncouth manners uncouth people uncouthness noun as in boorishness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance boorishness brutishness churlishness rusticity indelicacy crassness loutishness rowdiness crudeness clownishness gracelessness crudity coarseness vulgarity tastelessness rudeness artlessness roughness inelegance lowness unsophistication insensitiveness commonness rawness grossness insensitivity thoughtlessness raffishness tackiness kitsch indelicateness Antonyms & Near Antonyms gentility cultivation refinement urbanity polish tastefulness courtliness elegance grace graciousness sensitivity genteelness thoughtfulness consideration See More
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uncouth

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun