boorish

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'boorish' is a correct and usable English word.
It is an adjective meaning 'uncouth, rude and ill-mannered'. You can use it when referring to people with unpleasant or unacceptable behaviour. Example sentence: His boorish behaviour left a lasting bad impression on his colleagues.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Too often, standup is reactionary, laddish and boorish.

The Guardian

He continues: "Just because someone somewhere has a personal opinion that wolf-whistling and boorish behaviour is 'fun' and not criminal does not make it right – try living with the day-to-day drip, drip feeling that someone is acting in a way that causes you fear and knowing that they just don't care about the impact on you".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Even by his shaky standards, Erdoğan's behaviour during the campaign was exceptionally boorish.

The Guardian

The sports papers, the equivalent of our tabloids, splashed his boorish performance at the press conference on Thursday with pictures of him wearing his Walkman while supposedly answering questions.

The Guardian - Sport

To some these faults may have portray him as some rebellious humourist, but to most his behaviour is merely boorish.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The protesters were angered by his recent statements supporting the Chinese and Russian governments, and by a series of boorish stunts, including a radio interview in which he used foul language and sexist insults in reference to the Russian activist rock group Pussy Riot.

The Economist

For 17 years General Pinochet ruled over a police state.He was uncouth and boorish, prone to banging the table with his revolver at junta meetings.

The Economist

In short, he is not the role-model most parents would want their sports-crazy children to emulate.The same is true of Paul Gascoigne, an English soccer player whose gifts on the pitch are in no way matched by his boorish behaviour off it ("Gazza", as he is known in the tabloid columns, has been described by one former England team manager as "daft as a brush").

The Economist

No matter its final shape, Ukraine will be left with boorish new neighbours on its eastern flank.Directly west of Donetsk, the Dnipropetrovsk region is preparing for more trouble, including banditry, kidnapping and terror.

The Economist

A surprisingly large number are boorish anti-social types.

The Economist

His latest book describes how Japan's Class A war criminals were actually victims.Titles by other authors explain why South Korea is "the nuisance neighbour" with an inferiority complex towards Japan, and why the Chinese are hated around the world: they are self-centred, have boorish manners (spitting, never queuing) and spread disease.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "boorish" to describe behavior or individuals that display a lack of manners, refinement, or sensitivity, particularly in social situations where such qualities are expected.

Common error

While "boorish" certainly implies rudeness, it goes beyond mere impoliteness. "Boorish" suggests a crude and unrefined nature, a lack of social graces, and often, a lack of awareness about the impact of one's behavior on others. Make sure the context warrants the stronger connotation before using "boorish".

Linguistic Context

The adjective "boorish" primarily functions to describe a noun (usually a person or their behavior) as being rude, insensitive, and lacking refinement. It indicates a deficiency in social graces and an uncouth manner, consistent with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "boorish" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective to describe someone or something as rude, insensitive, and lacking refinement. As highlighted by Ludwig, its primary function is to criticize a lack of social graces and express disapproval. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, and while versatile, care should be taken not to confuse it with simple rudeness. Related phrases such as "uncouth", "ill-mannered", and "crude" can serve as alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ill-mannered

Directly indicates poor manners or a lack of polite behavior.

churlish

Implies surliness, unfriendliness, and a lack of graciousness.

uncouth

Suggests a lack of good manners, refinement, or grace.

loutish

Suggests clumsiness and stupidity, along with rudeness.

crude

Implies a lack of refinement or delicacy, often in a way that is offensive.

oafish

Suggests clumsiness and stupidity.

coarse

Implies roughness or a lack of delicacy, often in manners or speech.

vulgar

Suggests a lack of taste or sophistication, often offensively so.

uncivilized

Indicates a lack of refinement and social graces.

insensitive

Highlights a lack of awareness and consideration for the feelings of others.

FAQs

How to use "boorish" in a sentence?

Use "boorish" to describe someone or something that is rude, insensitive, and lacking in social graces. For example: "His "boorish behavior" at the dinner party was embarrassing."

What can I say instead of "boorish"?

You can use alternatives like "crude", "uncouth", or "ill-mannered" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "boorish" or "boorishness"?

"Boorish" is an adjective, describing a quality, while "boorishness" is a noun, referring to the state of being boorish. For example: "His actions were boorish." versus "His boorishness was offensive."

What's the difference between "boorish" and "rude"?

"Rude" generally refers to impolite or disrespectful behavior, while "boorish" implies a more profound lack of refinement, social skills, and sensitivity. "Boorish" suggests a lack of awareness of social expectations, whereas "rude" can be a more deliberate act.