Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective loutish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of loutish are boorish, churlish, and clownish. While all these words mean "uncouth in manners or appearance," loutish implies bodily awkwardness together with stupidity.

a loutish oaf

When would boorish be a good substitute for loutish?

Although the words boorish and loutish 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

In what contexts can churlish take the place of loutish?

The words churlish and loutish can be used in similar contexts, but churlish suggests surliness, unresponsiveness, and ungraciousness.

churlish remarks

When could clownish be used to replace loutish?

The words clownish and loutish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, clownish suggests ill-bred awkwardness, ignorance or stupidity, ungainliness, and often a propensity for absurd antics.

an adolescent's clownish conduct

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 loutish Widowed waitress Yvette Yates Redick and misfit nine-year-old son Benjamin Steinhauser remain in mourning for the man of the house — a vacancy poorly filled by her loutish current boyfriend (Rob Mayes). Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024 At one point Jan, distracted by Kasia’s upcoming sonogram, is being drilled by his loutish captain. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2023 McNally is known for dishing dirt on his celebrity clientele, exposing loutish diners, and waxing philosophical about Manhattan cultural mores. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Apr. 2023 Both Steve and Nick turn a blind eye to the way their mostly white clientele single out the token dancer of color for particularly loutish objectification, grabbing Otis’s head for a kiss or reaching inside his briefs despite his clear discomfort. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for loutish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loutish
Adjective
  • He's outgrown being shown any leniency or 'given a second chance' with such arrogant, boorish behavior.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But some of it is just too clumsy, in particular any scene with the boorish Scott (Patrick Wilson), Eve’s alcoholic music producer hubby.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Buteau’s special isn’t as brainy, brash or uncouth as others released this year, but there’s a sweetly molten core to her routines, a sense of genuine warmth.
    Melissa Kirsch, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
  • To even suggest that not all societies wanted peace was seen as vulgar and uncouth.
    Uri Kurlianchik, National Review, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But Victor leans less into clownish mortification than her predecessors, making room instead for a delicate quietude and sincerity.
    Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
  • Redheads often fielded comments related to having a hot temper, being clownish, weirdness, Irishness, not capable of being in the sun, being wild (among women), wimpy (among men), and intellectually superior.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • When Luca pulls a gun on him, ordering him to drive, Spencer quickly disarms him and then slaps him for the stupid move.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Indexing gives you a better chance to ‘be less stupid.’ — Investment advisor Barry Ritholtz Those dismal statistics come to us via the latest annual SPIVA scorecard (the acronym stands for Standard and Poor’s Index vs. Active).
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Some might consider this observation churlish when her biggest rival, ITV, was criticized for abandoning the playing field on Christmas Day after scheduling a parade of repeats.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The British series, which debuted in 2022, follows Oscar winner Gary Oldman’s churlish and disheveled Jackson Lamb as the leader of a team of disgraced and disowned MI5 agents scrappily and shabbily getting the job done.
    Trey Williams, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2024
Adjective
  • But, for not a single D to stand to applaud a boy's brave battle with cancer, or a man's admission to West Point, was a classless disgrace.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Communism, on the other hand, advocates for a classless society where all property is communally owned.
    H. Sami Karaca, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Loutish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loutish. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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