Graceless — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈgrās-ləs/ grace·less

Meaning & Definition of Graceless

Graceless (adjective)

  1. lacking in divine grace, immoral, unregenerate
  2. lacking a sense of propriety
  3. devoid of attractive qualities

Graceless (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands

    "a graceless person who was a butterfingered lout when it came to playing basketball"

    similar: awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed (British), clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy, all thumbs
    related: uncoordinated, bunglesome, bungling, gauche, inept, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful
    opposite: deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed
    near: expert, masterly, skilled, skillful, coordinated

  2. lacking social grace and assurance

    "was a graceless preteen but evolved into a confident teenager"

    similar: awkward, clumsy, gauche, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden
    related: angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed, perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset, diffident, insecure, meek, modest, self-doubting, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentious
    opposite: graceful, suave, urbane
    near: assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed

  3. not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation

    "one guest made a graceless comment about the bride's bleached hair"

    similar: amiss, improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, malapropos, perverse, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward, wrong, out of place, out of the way
    related: inopportune, unfortunate, unseasonable, untimely, extraneous, immaterial, inapplicable, irrelative, irrelevant, misbecoming, mismatched, incompatible, inconsistent, uncongenial, bad, naughty, sinful, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, banned, barred, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, awkward, gauche, ungraceful, unacceptable, unsatisfactory
    opposite: appropriate, becoming, befitting, correct, decorous, felicitous, fit, fitting, genteel, happy, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable
    near: fortunate, opportune, seasonable, timely, applicable, apposite, apropos, apt, germane, material, pat, pointed, relative, relevant, compatible, congenial, harmonious, allowed, authorized, permitted, approved, endorsed, kosher, licensed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported, acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK, passable, respectable, satisfactory, tolerable, commendable, creditable, exemplary, blameless, irreproachable, balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant

  4. having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner

    "her graceless dancing was painful to watch"

    similar: awkward, clumsy, gawkish, gawky, klutzy, uncoordinated, ungainly
    related: galumphing, larruping (dialect), lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, shambling, shuffling, unsteady, wobbly
    opposite: coordinated, graceful
    near: light, light-footed, lissome, lithe, nimble, sure-footed

  5. showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations

    "indifferent to the nuances of constructive criticism, she sometimes says things which are hurtful or graceless"

    similar: brash, ill-advised, imprudent, inadvisable, indelicate, indiscreet, injudicious, tactless, undiplomatic, unwise
    related: dumb, idiotic, moronic, stupid, careless, heedless, inconsiderate, mindless, thoughtless, ill-mannered, improper, inappropriate, indecorous, unbecoming, uncivil, unseemly, foolish, harebrained, nonsensical, preposterous, senseless, silly
    opposite: advisable, discreet, judicious, prudent, tactful, wise
    near: intelligent, logical, rational, sensible, smart, sound, appropriate, becoming, civil, decorous, proper, seemly, sage, sane, sapient

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Graceless

The most common words with a similar meaning to Graceless:

British: cack-handed
awkward, butterfingered, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy, gauche, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden, amiss, improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, malapropos, perverse, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward, wrong

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Graceless

Words with the opposite meaning of Graceless:

deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed, graceful, suave, urbane, appropriate, becoming, befitting, correct, decorous, felicitous, fit, fitting, genteel, happy, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable, coordinated, advisable, discreet, judicious, prudent, tactful, wise

Related Words for Graceless

bunglesome, bungling, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful, angular, lubberly, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified

Near Antonyms of Graceless

expert, masterly, skilled, skillful, assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, fortunate, opportune, seasonable, timely, applicable, apposite, apropos, apt, germane, material

Word Forms of Graceless

Derived words: gracelessly (adverb), gracelessness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Graceless

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Graceless

What does "Graceless" mean?

"Graceless" means lacking in divine grace, immoral, unregenerate. As an adjective, it is defined as: lacking in divine grace, immoral, unregenerate. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Graceless"?

Other words for "Graceless" include awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless and heavy-handed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Graceless" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Graceless"?

There are 160 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Graceless". Common alternatives include awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed and maladroit.

What is the opposite of "Graceless"?

Antonyms of "Graceless" include deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed, graceful, suave, urbane and appropriate. Near antonyms include expert, masterly, skilled and skillful.

How do you use "Graceless" in a sentence?

Examples of "Graceless" in a sentence: "a graceless person who was a butterfingered lout when it came to playing basketball"; "was a graceless preteen but evolved into a confident teenager"; "one guest made a graceless comment about the bride's bleached hair".

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

"Graceless" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Graceless"?

"Graceless" is pronounced /ˈgrās-ləs/ and divided into syllables as grace·less.

What is the origin of the word "Graceless"?

First known use: 14th century.