clownish

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adjective

clown·​ish ˈklau̇-nish 

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

clownishly adverb

clownishness noun

clownishness

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noun

clown·​ish·​ness

ˈklau̇-nish-nəs

plural -es

: clownish quality : rudeness, buffoonery

Synonyms of clownish

Adjective

• 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

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Martin showed that even a clownish gentleman with a pure heart could woo someone like Tisha Campbell’s Gina. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026

The Black characters that appeared on-screen closely resembled the clownish stereotypes popularized by the minstrels. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

The clownish dance is a Fortnite video game gesture, and involves making an L shape with fingers, pressing it to one’s forehead, then high kicking from side to side. —Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2026

He’s best known at this point either for playing the clownish Jack on Will & Grace or for being the relatively serious one of the three celebrity chatters on his podcast, Smartless. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1563, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1563, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clownish

• brownish