TOP

Definition of discourteous adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

discourteous

adjective
 
/dɪsˈkɜːtiəs/
 
/dɪsˈkɜːrtiəs/
(formal)
jump to other results
  1. having bad manners and not showing respect for other people synonym impolite
    • He didn’t wish to appear discourteous.
    opposite courteous
    Synonyms ruderudecheeky ▪ insolent ▪ disrespectful ▪ impolite ▪ impertinent ▪ discourteousThese are all words for people showing a lack of respect for other people.rude having or showing a lack of respect for other people and their feelings:
    • Why are you so rude to your mother?
    • It’s rude to speak when you’re eating.
    cheeky (British English, informal) (especially of children) rude in a funny or an annoying way:
    • You cheeky monkey!
    • a cheeky grin
    insolent (rather formal) very rude, especially to somebody who is older or more important Insolent is used especially to talk about the behaviour of children towards adults.disrespectful (rather formal) showing a lack of respect for somebody/​something:
    • Some people said he had been disrespectful to the president in his last speech.
    impolite (rather formal) not behaving in a pleasant way that follows the rules of society:
    • Some people think it is impolite to ask someone’s age.
    Impolite is often used in the phrases It seemed impolite and It would be impolite.     impertinent (rather formal) not showing respect for somebody who is older or more important Impertinent is often used by people such as parents and teachers when they are telling children that they are angry with them for being rude: Don’t be impertinent! discourteous (formal) having bad manners and not showing respect:
    • He didn’t wish to appear discourteous.
    Patterns
    • rude/​cheeky/​disrespectful/​impolite/​discourteous to somebody
    • rude/​impolite/​impertinent to do something
See discourteous in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: discourteous

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day