couth 1 of 2

adjective

ˈküth How to pronounce couth (audio)
Definition of couthnext
as in civilized
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living he's remarkably couth for someone who grew up in a small town with limited cultural opportunities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

couth

2 of 2

noun

as in accomplishment
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts their future son-in-law's lack of couth was of some concern to this patrician couple

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of couth
Noun
Even some of Durant’s Warriors’ teammates manifested their artsiness in less-than-couth ways. — Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 11 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for couth
  1. civilized
  2. accomplishment
  3. cultured
  4. civilization
  5. manners
  6. culture
  7. refinement
  8. education
Adjective
  • Teddy Roosevelt exhorted a nation of effeminate, civilized men to sally forth into the wild and reclaim their natural vitality.
    — Elizabeth Dray, STAT, 21 July 2026
  • Her generation was one of thinkers, politically committed to defining how individuals were to be shaped as citizens of a civilized nation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Definition of civilized
Noun
  • Their movements are tracked, conversations are restricted, decisions are tightly controlled, and accomplishments are rewarded with superficial incentives.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But his bogus life story of being a wealthy Wall Street player with a college degree and other accomplishments quickly unraveled.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of accomplishment
Adjective
  • As joint capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1873 to 1918, Budapest was one of the liveliest, most cultured, and prosperous cities in Europe; that golden era saw the construction of grand boulevards and numerous splendid buildings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The necklace is made up of 178 diamonds totaling about 52 carats and another seven South Sea cultured pearls.
    — Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026
Definition of cultured
Noun
  • The Safety Net examines what the advent of the internet means on the timescale of civilizations.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Can an ancient kingdom exist unnoticed in the shadows of modern civilization?
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of civilization
Noun
  • The causes and manners of death are pending the results of forensic autopsies that were scheduled for Sunday, per the news release from the coroners’ offices.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Model turn-taking, sharing, and good manners, and try to arrange play dates where your child can practice their social skills.
    — Fiona Tapp, Parents, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of manners
Noun
  • Lucky Brand is bridging music, fashion and culture to create a more meaningful connection with consumers this fall.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In recent years and as online culture changed, Hilton toned down his public attacks and appeared to embrace fatherhood and adopt a kinder public persona, even integrating more family-friendly content on his site.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of culture
Noun
  • But whether the Roam earns that positioning will depend on its real-world range, suspension refinement, and the reliability of RideGuard.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Featuring Bose’s noise cancellation technology, now referred to as QuietControl, the new QuietComfort headphones have several refinements over the first-generation model in their active noise cancellation performance.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of refinement
Noun
  • In addition the awards themselves, winners will participate in a weekend of education programing, networking opportunities and exclusive access to Academy members to support their career advancement.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Some of us will be first-generation physicians and the financial burden of medical education rests largely on our shoulders.
    — Opinion, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of education

Browse Nearby Words

cousins
couth
couture
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Couth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/couth. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of anecdote

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All