Synonyms of churlish

churlish

adjective

ˈchər-lish 

as in boorish

having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners

it would be churlish for any dinner guest to express anything but gratitude for his host's generous hospitality

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boorish
• uncouth
• loutish
• stupid
• clownish
• cloddish
• classless
• rude
• vulgar
• unsophisticated
• awkward
• ungracious
• unpolished
• discourteous
• coarse
• impolite
• tasteless
• uncultivated
• unrefined
• doltish
• unmannerly
• bestial
• oafish
• ill-bred
• beastly
• uncivil
• ungainly
• mannerless
• misleared

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sophisticated
• polished
• cultivated
• refined
• gentlemanly
• genteel
• civil
• well-bred
• polite
• classy
• courtly
• ladylike
• courteous
• couth

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective churlish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of churlish are boorish, clownish, and loutish. While all these words mean "uncouth in manners or appearance," churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness.

churlish remarks

When can boorish be used instead of churlish?

Although the words boorish and churlish have much in common, boorish implies rudeness of manner due to insensitiveness to others' feelings and unwillingness to be agreeable.

a drunk's boorish behavior

When might clownish be a better fit than churlish?

In some situations, the words clownish and churlish are roughly equivalent. However, clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics.

an adolescent's clownish conduct

In what contexts can loutish take the place of churlish?

The synonyms loutish and churlish are sometimes interchangeable, but loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity.

a loutish oaf

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of churlish

Most of that action is on the Democratic side and the sniping is getting downright churlish as we near the March 17 primary elections. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026

Kay hasn’t acted since before Marty was born, and Marty never breaks character — they were made for a churlish May-December affair that unlocks something in them both. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Dec. 2025

Still, The Thursday Murder Club is so good-natured, and so gorgeous to look at, that to carp about it just seems churlish. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Aug. 2025

The pure of heart among you may recoil at the notion that anyone would sow brutish chaos, hurt vulnerable people and throw any semblance of democracy under the bus for a churlish, vicious distraction. — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2025

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