unmannered
Adjective: 1. Lacking artificiality or affectation; natural and genuine in behavior or manner. This sense describes someone or something that is not pretending or putting on airs, but is instead authentic and sincere. 2. Socially incorrect or impolite; lacking good manners. This sense describes behavior that violates social norms of politeness, often perceived as rude, discourteous, or ill-bred.
Adjective (Natural):
- Her unmannered charm made everyone feel at ease. (Her natural, unaffected charm made everyone feel at ease.)
- He gave an unmannered performance, full of raw emotion. (He gave a performance that was not artificial, full of raw emotion.)
- We appreciated his unmannered honesty, even when it was blunt. (We appreciated his genuine, unpretentious honesty, even when it was blunt.)
Adjective (Impolite):
- The guest's unmannered comments offended the host. (The guest's impolite comments offended the host.)
- Such unmannered behavior is not tolerated in this establishment. (Such ill-mannered behavior is not tolerated in this establishment.)
- It was an unmannered intrusion to barge into the meeting. (It was a rude intrusion to barge into the meeting.)
The word unmannered can be ambiguous because its two primary meanings are almost opposites. Context is crucial to determine whether it is a compliment (meaning natural and unaffected) or a criticism (meaning rude and ill-bred). * When describing art, speech, or personal quality, it typically carries the positive sense of being artless or unstudied. * When describing specific social actions (like an intrusion, comment, or interruption), it almost always carries the negative sense of being discourteous or ill-mannered.
- Mannered (Adjective): The direct opposite in its negative sense. It means having or showing a particular manner, especially if it is artificial or affected. (e.g., )
- Well-mannered (Adjective): Polite and courteous.
- Ill-mannered (Adjective): Having bad manners; rude. This is a more common and unambiguous synonym for the negative sense of unmannered.
- Unmannerly (Adjective/Adverb): A close synonym, almost exclusively used in the negative sense of being rude or discourteous.
- For sense 1 (Natural): Natural, unaffected, unpretentious, genuine, artless, sincere.
- For sense 2 (Impolite): Rude, impolite, discourteous, ill-mannered, uncouth, boorish.
- For sense 1 (Natural): Affected, artificial, pretentious, mannered, studied.
- For sense 2 (Impolite): Polite, courteous, well-mannered, civil, respectful.
- without artificiality; natural
- the doctor's quiet unmannered entry
- socially incorrect in behavior
- resentment flared at such an unmannered intrusion