Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gauche contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gauche are awkward, clumsy, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

When is it sensible to use awkward instead of gauche?

The words awkward and gauche can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

Where would clumsy be a reasonable alternative to gauche?

The synonyms clumsy and gauche are sometimes interchangeable, but clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When would inept be a good substitute for gauche?

While in some cases nearly identical to gauche, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

In what contexts can maladroit take the place of gauche?

The words maladroit and gauche are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gauche Another newspaper innovation introduced by Nicholson was a society column, which was seen by some in the city as gauche and bordering on scandalous. NOLA.com, 24 Jan. 2018 However, purists view purchasing king cakes before Jan. 6 as a demonstration of gauche impatience. NOLA.com, 5 Jan. 2018 Today, mass production and an abundance of cheap knockoffs have rendered conspicuous consumption unremarkable at best and gauche at worst. J.c. Pan, New Republic, 1 Aug. 2017 Old money, historically, has been stereotyped as having a Brahmin disdain for such a gauche topic. Paul Sullivan, New York Times, 19 May 2017 See All Example Sentences for gauche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauche
Adjective
  • The traditional process of quitting a job has always been a personal, often uncomfortable experience.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Or perhaps showing too much emotion made people uncomfortable, so you were called sensitive and learned to keep things inside.
    Dale Whelehan, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • However, whether the friendship will survive the awkward gift exchange remains to be seen.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • When Anne Hathaway co-hosted the ceremony with James Franco in 2012, it was widely panned as the Academy's awkward attempt to attract younger viewers.
    Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The character first appears in the franchise’s original film Scream (1996) as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Aviles’ dismissal, for a clumsy challenge on the edge of the penalty area, seemed set to turn the game.
    Martin Rogers, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The resolution is seeking $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years, measures that have met opposition from Democrats and made some Republicans uneasy.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • In my conversations with barbecue people, there was often uneasy tension about whether craft barbecue is something new or a return to an old way of doing things.
    Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Listen to this article The UConn men’s basketball team was embarrassed by Seton Hall at its place last season, and when the Pirates made the return trip to Gampel Pavilion, UConn got its revenge and blew them out by 30.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Ho grew up embarrassed by her parents’ boasting of their collection to guests but would come to embrace it later.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gauche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gauche. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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