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churl

noun \ ˈchər(-ə)l \

Definition of churl

1 : ceorl
2 : a medieval peasant
3 : rustic, countryman
4 a : a rude ill-bred person
b : a stingy morose person

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Examples of churl in a Sentence

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

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

Origin and Etymology of churl

Middle English, from Old English ceorl man, ceorl; akin to Old Norse karl man, husband

churl Synonyms

Synonyms

bumpkin, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick, hillbilly, provincial, rube, rustic, yokel;

Antonyms

cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate;

Near Antonyms

slicker, smoothy (or smoothie);

metropolitan, suburbanite, urbanite;

Related Words

boor, clod, clown, gawk, lout, oaf;

greenhorn, tenderfoot;

backwoodsman, mountaineer;

Learn More about churl

  1. See words that rhyme with churl Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for churl Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about churl

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