Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking in refinement or grace; showing poor manners or upbringing: Used to describe a person whose behavior is rude, impolite, or socially unacceptable, often due to a lack of proper education or training in social etiquette.

Usage

• The word "ill-bred" is a formal and somewhat old-fashioned adjective. It is used to criticize someone's behavior as crude or uncultured, implying a failure in their upbringing. It is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "be" or "seem").
• It describes a person's character or actions, not objects or abstract concepts.

Examples

• His ill-bred comments offended everyone at the formal dinner.
• She was considered ill-bred for interrupting the speaker so rudely.
• It is ill-bred to speak with your mouth full.

Advanced Usage

• The term can carry a strong connotation of social class judgment, suggesting the person was not raised with the proper social graces expected in polite society.
• "to show oneself ill-bred": to reveal one's lack of good manners through one's actions.
  • By arguing loudly in public, he showed himself to be thoroughly ill-bred.

Variants and Related Words

• Ill-breeding (noun): The state or quality of being ill-bred.
  • His ill-breeding was evident in his coarse language.

Synonyms

• Uncouth: Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.
• Unrefined: Not elegant or cultured.
• Boorish: Rough and bad-mannered.
• Vulgar: Lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined.
• Unmannerly: Not having or showing good manners; rude.

Antonyms

• Well-bred: Having or showing good upbringing; refined and polite.
• Cultivated: Refined and well-educated.
• Polished: Refined, sophisticated, and elegant.
• Courteous: Polite, respectful, or considerate in manner.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Badly brought up": A more common, modern phrase with a similar meaning to "ill-bred."
  • He was so badly brought up that he never says "please" or "thank you."

Adjective

1. (of persons) lacking in refinement or grace