Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Lacking social grace or graciousness; rude.
  • adjective Not pleasant or acceptable; unattractive.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Rude; unmannerly; odious; hateful; brutal.
  • Offensive; disagreeable; unpleasing; unacceptable.
  • Showing no grace; impious; wicked.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not gracious; showing no grace or kindness; being without good will; unfeeling.
  • adjective obsolete Having no grace; graceless; wicked.
  • adjective Not well received; offensive; unpleasing; unacceptable; not favored.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Not gracious; unkind or cold-hearted

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective lacking social graces
  • adjective lacking charm and good taste

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • He was to the last plain and blunt; at this time I can easily believe him to have been so to a degree which Scott might look upon as "ungracious" -- I take the epithet from one of his letters to James Ballantyne.

    Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume V (of 10) 1824

  • He rode out the Quemado Road one matchless December day when the very air would have seemed sufficient to produce flowers without calling the ungracious desert into service.

    Children of the Desert Louis Dodge 1911

  • And believe me, Madam (though I do not presume to add those expressions which might rather heighten the offence I fear this letter will give you), that the assurance of your happiness in the choice you have made, and which now no obstacle can oppose, will considerably -- lighten the pain with which I shall long recall my ungracious reply to your communication.

    Lucretia — Volume 03 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • And believe me, Madam (though I do not presume to add those expressions which might rather heighten the offence I fear this letter will give you), that the assurance of your happiness in the choice you have made, and which now no obstacle can oppose, will considerably -- lighten the pain with which I shall long recall my ungracious reply to your communication.

    Lucretia — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • Tim "Eyes Coming Outta My Skull" Russert is reporting that the Obama camp views Sen Clinton offering herself up as VEEP as "ungracious" and "not happy campers."

    Pro-Hillary Super-Del Defects To Obama, Putting Him A Dozen Away From Nomination 2009

  • Kathleen Dunbar showed up after all, but her behavior was reported as "ungracious" by those that were there.

    Archive 2005-12-01 2005

  • Mr Powell was described by Lord Wilson as "ungracious" for writing about him.

    Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

  • Mr Powell was described by Lord Wilson as "ungracious" for writing about him.

    Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

  • Gardiner later responded by branding Pallett "ungracious" and a "really silly little girl".

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2009

  • Hughes labelled Wenger "ungracious" and other Premier League managers weighed in with criticism, but a similar scenario seems unlikely today.

    WalesOnline - Home 2009

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