Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gauche contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gauche are awkward, clumsy, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

When is it sensible to use awkward instead of gauche?

The words awkward and gauche can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

Where would clumsy be a reasonable alternative to gauche?

The synonyms clumsy and gauche are sometimes interchangeable, but clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When would inept be a good substitute for gauche?

While in some cases nearly identical to gauche, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

In what contexts can maladroit take the place of gauche?

The words maladroit and gauche are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

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 gauche For a scene at the iconically gauche-glam nightclub and restaurant Tatiana — where the surf and turf will run you $99 — only five crew members went inside. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024 The reason is very simple—the Noto palazzo was very gauche and fit for the party later in the season, to be thrown by Hollander’s character. Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Dec. 2022 That would be too gauche, too legislative for the court. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 19 May 2022 Dear Looking: Greeting your host with your Gladware out and at the ready is definitely gauche. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2021 See All Example Sentences for gauche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauche
Adjective
  • The father said the priest asked about masturbation and pornography, and that his son was uncomfortable and reported it immediately after leaving church.
    Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The content is absurd, borderline uncomfortable and consistently viral.
    Leeron Walter, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That was always a bit awkward, given Snow was raised as a Stark with no experience in Targaryen familial relationships.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Reaching over your child’s car seat can be uncomfortable and awkward.
    Laura Lu, Parents, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Chris and Emilia’s conversation is suddenly interrupted by a premature explosion, which was caused by a clumsy member of a militia group called the Sons of Liberty.
    Scott Meslow, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Tiny, slow and clumsy — these hatchlings are an easy snack for predators.
    Diaa Hadid, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And that helped to resolve that weird uneasy tension in my head.
    Maria Reva September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The safe-haven asset offers investors a hedge against an uneasy financial environment as a sharp hiring slowdown coincides with a steady uptick of inflation, according to analysts.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • One-third admitted feeling embarrassed about their lack of understanding of AI, and 35% reported feeling nervous discussing AI at work for fear of sounding uninformed, according to the report.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Our national identity doesn’t rise or fall on Cracker Barrel and Uncle Herschel, who in our imaginations would be embarrassed and chagrined at all the attention.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Gauche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gauche. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gauche

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!