boorish

/ˈbʊəɹɪʃ/

Group 9Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(adjective)
Rough and bad-mannered; coarse
GRE

Example in Context

The diplomat's boorish behavior at the state dinner, including interrupting the host's toast, caused an international embarrassment.

Synonyms

rudecrudeuncouth

Etymology

Derived from 'boor', indicating a rough, uncivilized person.

  • boor (Dutch) — peasant

Memory Aid

😴Sounds like “bore us

The BOORISH man bored us to death with his crude jokes!

Visual Association

🤢A loud, rude person at a fancy dinner, spilling food everywhere and making guests cringe.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “boorish” mean on the GRE?

boorish (adjective) means “Rough and bad-mannered; coarse”. The diplomat's boorish behavior at the state dinner, including interrupting the host's toast, caused an international embarrassment.

How to remember “boorish” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “boorish” sounds like “bore us”. The BOORISH man bored us to death with his crude jokes!

What are synonyms for “boorish”?

Common synonyms: rude, crude, uncouth.