Churlish — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈchər-lish/ churl·ish

Meaning & Definition of Churlish

Churlish (adjective)

  1. of, resembling, or characteristic of a churl, vulgar
  2. marked by a lack of civility or graciousness, surly
  3. difficult to work with or deal with, intractable

Churlish (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners

    "it would be churlish for any dinner guest to express anything but gratitude for his host's generous hospitality"

    similar: boorish, classless, cloddish, clownish, loutish, uncouth
    related: coarse, ill-bred, uncultivated, unpolished, unrefined, unsophisticated, tasteless, vulgar, beastly, bestial, doltish, oafish, stupid, discourteous, impolite, mannerless, misleared (chiefly Scottish), rude, uncivil, ungracious, unmannerly, awkward, ungainly
    near: couth, cultivated, polished, refined, sophisticated, well-bred, classy, courtly, genteel, gentlemanly, ladylike, civil, courteous, polite

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Churlish

The most common words with a similar meaning to Churlish:

boorish, classless, cloddish, clownish, loutish, uncouth

Related Words for Churlish

coarse, ill-bred, uncultivated, unpolished, unrefined, unsophisticated, tasteless, vulgar, beastly, bestial, doltish, oafish, stupid, discourteous, impolite, mannerless, misleared, rude, uncivil, ungracious, unmannerly, awkward, ungainly

Near Antonyms of Churlish

couth, cultivated, polished, refined, sophisticated, well-bred, classy, courtly, genteel, gentlemanly, ladylike, civil, courteous, polite

Word Forms of Churlish

Derived words: churlishly (adverb), churlishness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Churlish

Middle English cherlyssh "of churls, rustic, uncouth," going back to Old English ceorlisc, cyrlisc, from ceorl "male person, countryman, member of the lowest class of free men" + -isc -ish churl

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Churlish

Frequently Asked Questions about Churlish

What does "Churlish" mean?

"Churlish" means of, resembling, or characteristic of a churl, vulgar. As an adjective, it is defined as: of, resembling, or characteristic of a churl, vulgar.

What is another word for "Churlish"?

Other words for "Churlish" include boorish, classless, cloddish, clownish, loutish and uncouth. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Churlish" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Churlish"?

There are 29 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Churlish". Common alternatives include boorish, classless, cloddish, clownish, loutish and uncouth.

How do you use "Churlish" in a sentence?

Examples of "Churlish" in a sentence: "it would be churlish for any dinner guest to express anything but gratitude for his host's generous hospitality".

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

"Churlish" is an adjective.

Is "Churlish" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Churlish" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Churlish"?

"Churlish" is pronounced /ˈchər-lish/ and divided into syllables as churl·ish.

What is the origin of the word "Churlish"?

"Churlish" comes from Middle English cherlyssh "of churls, rustic, uncouth," going back to Old English ceorlisc, cyrlisc, from ceorl "male person, countryman, member of the lowest class of free men" + -isc -ish churl. First known use: before 12th century.