as in boorish
having or showing crudely insensitive or impolite manners
the clownish antics of some of the teenagers at the wedding reception
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clownish
Orange cats, particularly tabbies like Butter, are known for their quirky and often clownish personalities.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
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
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
The suit also paints a clownish portrait of the entrepreneur, portraying him as pompous, shameless, and untrustworthy.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clownish
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
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
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
The suit also paints a clownish portrait of the entrepreneur, portraying him as pompous, shameless, and untrustworthy.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clownish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clownish
Adjective
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Depicting Americans as arrogant, loud, boorish and demeaning of other cultures, the term has stuck and is still mentioned 60-plus years later.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
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Lownie’s book chronicles other pretty outrageous, boorish behavior by Andrew, both in the company of his pedophile friend, the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, and on his own.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And when Sam cooks up a truly stupid scheme to make some quick cash, there’s little doubt a heavy like Mickey isn’t going to like it.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
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There's a fine line between stupid and clever, indeed.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Societal neglect will inevitably breed a coarseness in manner and language, exhibited by the uncouth nature of the Chiefs’ players as well as the public watching them.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
19 Aug. 2025
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If Netanyahu loses the next elections, his downfall would bring a wave of relief among many Israelis at home and abroad for removing the uncouth populists and religious fundamentalists who openly broadcast their intentions to destroy and starve the population of Gaza and annex the territory.—
DAHLIA SCHEINDLIN,
Foreign Affairs,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This was like loutish English tourists turning up unannounced and urinating in the holy water.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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And Gandolfini, who died of a heart attack in 2013 at age 51, was the show’s tempestuous soul, playing a loutish killer with a quick temper and sad eyes.—
Chris Vognar,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Private ownership is eliminated with the goal of all goods being equally shared in a classless society.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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The rowdy responses of the classless crowd were intolerable.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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Read more: How the Low-Stakes Murder Mystery Took Over Pop Culture Advertisement 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
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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
Adjective
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The book is filled with vulgar pictures, with many faces blacked out, and messages both handwritten and typed from well-wishers for Epstein’s 50th birthday.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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The biopic is the vulgar but necessary tribute inherently populist cinema pays to more traditional, higher-brow art.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clownish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clownish. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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