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Showing results for churlish. Search instead for ceorlish.
Definitions

churlish

[chur-lish] / ˈtʃɜr lɪʃ /
ADJECTIVE
crude, boorish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
grumpy ornery rude sullen uncivilized
WEAK
base blunt brusque cantankerous cloddish clodhopping crabbed crude crusty curt cussed discourteous dour grouchy gruff harsh ill-tempered impolite loutish lowbred mean miserly morose oafish rustic snippy surly touchy ugly uncivil uncultured unmannerly unneighborly unpolished unsociable vulgar
Antonyms
STRONGEST
happy nice polished refined sophisticated
WEAK
gentle pleasant polite

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A person would be churlish not to be moved by the two recipients’ stories Tuesday night, but awarding them what they’d earned in that venue marked the abuse of a great honor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

He crosses one flamboyantly shod foot over another on his desk with churlish satisfaction and takes a deep draw on his cigar.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2025

But it would be churlish to say either way, comparing eras is a fool's errand.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025

“It seems churlish to complain about where we are right now,” said Wendy Edelberg, director of the Hamilton Project, an economic policy arm of the Brookings Institution.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2024

Seeing Hannie so happy I couldn’t stop the tiny, churlish, jealous voice inside me that asked why she never laughed like that with me any more.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler