SKIP TO CONTENT

discourteous

/dɪsˈkʌrtiəs/
IPA guide

If you're rude or inconsiderate, you're discourteous. It would be discourteous to invite only four of your classmates to your party in front of the whole class.

Burping on purpose, pushing your way to the front of a line, failing to send a thank you note for a generous gift, deliberately hurting someone's feelings, or failing to bow when you meet the Queen: these are all discourteous ways of behaving. When you're courteous, you have excellent manners and you're very thoughtful. Add the prefix dis-, meaning "lack of," and you get discourteous.

Definitions of discourteous
  1. adjective
    showing no courtesy; rude
    “a distant and at times discourteous young”
    synonyms:
    abrupt
    surprisingly and unceremoniously brusque in manner
    brusk, brusque, curt, short
    marked by rude or peremptory shortness
    caddish, unchivalrous, ungallant
    offensively discourteous
    unceremonious
    without due formalities
    disrespectful
    exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    courteous
    characterized by courtesy and gracious good manners
    chivalrous, gallant, knightly
    being attentive to women like an ideal knight
    respectful
    full of or exhibiting respect
  2. adjective
    lacking social graces
    synonyms: ungracious
    impolite
    not polite
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘discourteous'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family