graceless
/'greislis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking social grace or tact; awkward: Describes a person or behavior that is socially inept, tactless, or lacking in refinement.
- Lacking physical grace or elegance; clumsy: Describes movement, form, or execution that is awkward, uncoordinated, or inelegant.
- Lacking kindness or courtesy; ungracious: Describes an attitude or manner that is rude, inconsiderate, or lacking in pleasantness.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- His graceless comment about her cooking offended everyone at the table. (This shows a lack of social tact.)
- The dancer's graceless movements were out of sync with the music. (This shows physical clumsiness.)
- She was a graceless loser, storming off without congratulating the winner. (This shows an ungracious attitude.)
Advanced Usage
- "graceless in victory/defeat": Describes someone who behaves poorly, either by boasting arrogantly after winning or by complaining bitterly after losing.
- The champion was surprisingly graceless in victory, mocking his opponent.
- Used to describe inanimate objects or creations that are aesthetically clumsy or inelegant.
- The architect's graceless design for the new building was widely criticized.
Variants and Related Words
- Gracelessly (adverb): In a graceless manner.
- He gracelessly stumbled through his apology.
- Gracelessness (noun): The quality or state of being graceless.
- The gracelessness of the proposal doomed it from the start.
Synonyms
- Awkward: Causing difficulty; clumsy.
- Gauche: Lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward.
- Ungainly: (Of a person or movement) awkward; clumsy.
- Tactless: Having or showing a lack of adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
- Ungracious: Not polite or friendly; rude.
Antonyms
- Graceful: Having or showing grace or elegance.
- Polished: Refined, sophisticated, or elegant.
- Tactful: Having or showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
- Gracious: Courteous, kind, and pleasant, especially towards someone of lower social status.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- A graceless exit: Leaving a situation in an awkward, clumsy, or socially unacceptable manner.
- After his embarrassing speech, he made a graceless exit from the party.
Adjective
- lacking social polish
- too gauche to leave the room when the conversation became intimate
- their excellent manners always made me feel gauche
- lacking grace; clumsy
- a graceless production of the play
- his stature low...his bearing ungraceful- Sir Walter Scott
- lacking graciousness
- a totally graceless hostess