Churl — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈchər(-ə)l/

Meaning & Definition of Churl

Churl (noun)

  1. ceorl
  2. a medieval peasant
  3. rustic, countryman

Churl (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country

    "as far as he was concerned, anyone from outside the city was a backwater churl"

    similar: bumpkin, chawbacon, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick, provincial, rube, rustic, yokel
    related: boor, clod, clown, gawk, lout, oaf, greenhorn, tenderfoot, peasant, peon, backwoodsman, mountaineer
    opposite: cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate
    near: slicker, smoothy, metropolitan, suburbanite, urbanite

  2. a mean grasping person who is usually stingy with money

    "don't bother asking for donations at that house—the churl who lives there believes that charity begins and ends at home"

    similar: cheapskate, hunks, miser, penny-pincher, piker, scrooge, skinflint, tightwad
    related: hoarder, pack rat, saver
    near: prodigal, profligate, spender, spendthrift, squanderer, waster, wastrel

  3. a person whose behavior is offensive to others

    "a churl who gets thrown out of parties with remarkable regularity"

    similar: bastard, beast, bleeder (British), blighter (chiefly British), boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, clown, creep, cretin, crud (slang), crumb (slang), cur, dirtbag (slang), dog, fink, heel, hound, jerk, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck (slang), scum, scumbag (slang), scuzzball (slang), skunk, sleaze, sleazebag (slang), sleazeball (slang), slime, slimeball (slang), slob, snake, so-and-so, sod (chiefly British), stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin, son of a gun
    related: barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage, loudmouth, vulgarian, lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch, booby, doofus (slang), fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit (chiefly British), nitwit, nut, schmo (slang), airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink (slang), dolt, dope, dork (slang), goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey, brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip, snob, snoot, snot, dweeb (slang), nerd
    near: hero, heroine, idol, role model, gentleman, lady, angel, saint

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Churl

The most common words with a similar meaning to Churl:

Slang: crud, crumb, dirtbag, schmuck, scumbag, scuzzball, sleazebag, sleazeball, slimeball
Chiefly British: blighter, sod
British: bleeder
bumpkin, chawbacon, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick, provincial, rube, rustic, yokel, cheapskate, hunks, miser, penny-pincher, piker, scrooge, skinflint, tightwad, bastard, beast, boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, clown, creep, cretin, cur, dog, fink, heel, hound, jerk, joker, louse, lout, pill

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Churl

Words with the opposite meaning of Churl:

cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate

Related Words for Churl

clod, gawk, oaf, greenhorn, tenderfoot, peasant, peon, backwoodsman, mountaineer, hoarder, pack rat, saver, barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage, loudmouth, vulgarian, lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch, booby

Near Antonyms of Churl

slicker, smoothy, metropolitan, suburbanite, urbanite, prodigal, profligate, spender, spendthrift, squanderer, waster, wastrel, hero, heroine, idol, role model, gentleman, lady, angel, saint

Origin & Etymology of Churl

Middle English cherl "non-noble person (whether free or bound), ill-bred person, boor, fellow," going back to Old English ceorl "male person, man, married man, countryman, member of the lowest class of freemen," going back to Germanic *kerla- "man, freeman" (whence also Old Frisian tzerl, tzirl, kerl "man, servant," Middle Dutch kerel, kerl "freeman below the rank of knight"), with a by-form *karla- (whence Old High German karl, charel "man, husband," Old Norse karl "man, commoner, old man"), of uncertain origin

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Churl

What does "Churl" mean?

"Churl" means ceorl. As a noun, it is defined as: ceorl. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Churl"?

Other words for "Churl" include bumpkin, chawbacon, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick and provincial. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Churl" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Churl"?

There are 132 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Churl". Common alternatives include bumpkin, chawbacon, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick, provincial, rube and rustic.

What is a slang word for "Churl"?

Slang words for "Churl" include crud, crumb, dirtbag, schmuck, scumbag and scuzzball.

What is the opposite of "Churl"?

Antonyms of "Churl" include cosmopolitan, cosmopolite and sophisticate. Near antonyms include slicker, smoothy, metropolitan and suburbanite.

How do you use "Churl" in a sentence?

Examples of "Churl" in a sentence: "as far as he was concerned, anyone from outside the city was a backwater churl"; "don't bother asking for donations at that house—the churl who lives there believes that charity begins and ends at home"; "a churl who gets thrown out of parties with remarkable regularity".

Is "Churl" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Churl" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Churl"?

"Churl" is pronounced /ˈchər(-ə)l/.