unceremonious

adjective

un·​cer·​e·​mo·​ni·​ous ˌən-ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce unceremonious (audio)
Synonyms of unceremoniousnext
1
: not ceremonious : informal
2
: abrupt, rude
an unceremonious dismissal
unceremoniously adverb
unceremoniousness noun

Examples of unceremonious in a Sentence

His unceremonious dismissal by the new boss surprised everybody. my polite request was met with an unceremonious refusal
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No single unceremonious strangling of a potential project has created this issue, but all of them in sum have led us here. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026 No single moment better illustrates this neglect than the unceremonious and unilateral cancellation of Baltimore’s east-west Red Line in 2015 by a governor who openly favored roads over rail and brushed aside decades of planning and more than a billion dollars in federal investment. Brandon Scott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026 Paul is a 12-time All-Star and a franchise legend for the Clippers, which is why this unceremonious end was hard to fathom for fans. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026 Wednesday’s deal ends Paul’s unceremonious second stint with the franchise. Law Murray, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unceremonious

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unceremonious was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Unceremonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unceremonious. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

unceremonious

adjective
un·​cer·​e·​mo·​ni·​ous ˌən-ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce unceremonious (audio)
: acting without or lacking ordinary courtesy : abrupt
an unceremonious departure
unceremoniously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unceremonious

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