discourtesy

/dɪsˈkʌrdəsi/

Other forms: discourtesies

Discourtesy is acting in a rude or thoughtless way. If you yell orders at your restaurant server and leave him a small tip, you're treating him with extreme discourtesy.

The noun discourtesy is a formal way to say "rudeness" or "disrespect." Cutting in line, interrupting others, chewing with your mouth wide open, being late for an important meeting — these are all examples of discourtesy. Courtesy means "elegance of manners" or "politeness," from a root meaning "courtly manners." When you add the prefix dis-, "the opposite of," you get discourtesy.

Definitions of discourtesy

1. noun

   a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
   synonyms: offence, offense, offensive activity

   types:

   derision, ridicule

   the act of deriding or treating with contempt

   indelicacy

   an impolite act or expression

   insolence

   an offensive disrespectful impudent act

   affront, insult

   a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect

   presumption

   a kind of discourtesy in the form of an act of presuming

   rebuff, slight

   a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

   mock

   the act of mocking or ridiculing

   indignity

   an affront to one's dignity or self-esteem

   outrage, scandalisation, scandalization

   the act of scandalizing

   cold shoulder, cut, snub

   a refusal to recognize someone you know

   silent treatment

   an aloof refusal to speak to someone you know

   type of:

   behavior, behaviour, conduct, doings

   manner of acting or controlling yourself
2. noun

   a manner that is rude and insulting
   synonyms: rudeness

   antonyms:

   courtesy

   a courteous manner

   types:

   boorishness

   the manner of a rude or insensitive person

   impoliteness

   a discourteous manner that ignores accepted social usage

   ungraciousness

   an offensive lack of good manners

   incivility

   deliberate discourtesy

   abruptness, brusqueness, curtness, gruffness, shortness

   an abrupt discourteous manner

   contempt, disrespect

   a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous

   cheekiness, crust, freshness, gall, impertinence, impudence, insolence

   the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties

   bad manners, ill-breeding

   impoliteness resulting from ignorance

   crudeness, crudity, gaucheness

   an impolite manner that is vulgar and lacking tact or refinement

   chutzpa, chutzpah, hutzpah

   (Yiddish) unbelievable gall; insolence; audacity

   type of:

   manner, personal manner

   a way of acting or behaving
3. noun

   an expression of lack of respect
   synonyms: disrespect

   types:

   abuse, contumely, insult, revilement, vilification

   a rude expression intended to offend or hurt

   derision

   contemptuous laughter

   ridicule

   language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate

   contempt, scorn

   open disrespect for a person or thing

   depreciation, derogation, disparagement

   a communication that belittles somebody or something

   cheek, impertinence, impudence

   an impudent statement

   blasphemy

   blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)

   fleer

   contempt expressed by mockery in looks or words

   jeer, jeering, mockery, scoff, scoffing

   showing your contempt by derision

   leer, sneer

   a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls

   sneer

   a contemptuous or scornful remark

   put-down, squelch, squelcher, takedown

   a crushing remark

   befooling, stultification

   derision of someone or something as foolish or absurd or inconsistent

   cold water

   disparagement of a plan or hope or expectation

   belittling, denigration

   a belittling comment

   aspersion, slur

   a disparaging remark

   detraction, petty criticism

   a petty disparagement

   sour grapes

   disparagement of something that is unattainable

   condescension, disdain, patronage

   a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient

   calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, obloquy, traducement

   a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

   low blow

   unscrupulous abuse

   billingsgate, scurrility

   foul-mouthed or abusive language

   cut, stinger

   a remark capable of wounding mentally

   invective, vitriol, vituperation

   abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will

   type of:

   content, message, subject matter, substance

   what a communication that is about something is about