clownish

adjective

clown·​ish ˈklau̇-nish 

: resembling or befitting a clown (as in ignorance and lack of sophistication)

clownishly adverb

clownishness noun

Synonyms

• boorish
• stupid
• uncouth
• loutish
• classless
• churlish
• cloddish
• vulgar

Choose the Right Synonym for clownish

boorish, churlish, loutish, clownish mean uncouth in manners or appearance.

boorish implies rudeness of manner due to insensitiveness to others' feelings and unwillingness to be agreeable.

a drunk's boorish behavior

churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness.

churlish remarks

loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity.

a loutish oaf

clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics.

an adolescent's clownish conduct

Examples of clownish in a Sentence

the clownish antics of some of the teenagers at the wedding reception

Recent Examples on the Web

The writer might have been reminded of Napoleon III, who hovers in the background of the novel as a sinister, clownish figure. —Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025

Orange cats, particularly tabbies like Butter, are known for their quirky and often clownish personalities. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025

Each shoe lifts you a full 1.5 inches off the ground, but the upper offers a low profile that keeps them from looking, well, clownish. —Gabrielle Kassel, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025

In the mountains of Papua New Guinea, researchers encountered a clownish creature perched on a log in a fern meadow, basking in the sun. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clownish

• brownish