Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking good manners; rude or discourteous in behavior: Describes a person or their actions that show a disregard for social conventions of politeness and respect.

Usage

• The adjective "unmannerly" is used to characterize behavior, speech, or a person as impolite. It is a formal or literary term.
• It typically precedes a noun (e.g., ) or follows a linking verb like or (e.g., ).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The guest's unmannerly interruption of the speaker was frowned upon by everyone.
  • She found his unmannerly comments at the dinner table to be deeply offensive.
  • It is considered unmannerly to speak with your mouth full.

Advanced Usage

• "unmannerly" as an adverb (archaic): In older or literary English, "unmannerly" can function as an adverb meaning "in a rude manner."
  • He bowed most unmannerly and left the room. (He bowed in a very rude way.)

Variants and Related Words

• Unmannerliness (noun): The state or quality of being unmannerly; rudeness.
  • The unmannerliness of his behavior shocked the polite society.
• Unmannered (adjective): A less common synonym meaning lacking good manners; natural or unaffected, but often implying rudeness.
  • The critic dismissed the performance as unmannered and crude.

Synonyms

• Rude: Offensively impolite or ill-mannered.
• Discourteous: Showing a lack of courtesy or politeness.
• Ill-mannered: Having bad manners.
• Impolite: Not having or showing good manners.
• Boorish: Rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

Antonyms

• Mannerly: Having or showing good manners; polite.
• Polite: Having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people.
• Courteous: Polite, respectful, or considerate in manner.
• Civil: Polite without being friendly; formally polite.

Idioms and Phrases

• While there are no common idioms using "unmannerly" itself, the concept is central to phrases like:
  • To have no manners: To be habitually rude.
  • To be a boor: To be a rude, ill-mannered person.

Adjective

1. socially incorrect in behavior
   • resentment flared at such an unmannered intrusion