cloddish

adjective

clod·​dish ˈklä-dish How to pronounce cloddish (audio)
Synonyms of cloddishnext
1
: heavy and spiritless
our thoughts cloddish from unending toil
2
: stolid and boorish
set apart from the cloddish world about them by their heightened capacity for feelingMark Schorer
cloddishness noun
Nobody knows better than Miss Manners that cloddishness is a social menace, but apparently no one else knows that the cure for it is not the cloddishness of going around "enlightening" people about how unpleasant one finds their pleasantries. Judith Martin, Miss Manners' Guide to Domestic Tranquility, 1999

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cloddish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloddish. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on cloddish

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!