Clownish

/ˈklaʊnɪʃ/ · adjective

Meaning

Resembling or characteristic of a circus clown; comical, ridiculous..

Definitions by Sense

1. Resembling or characteristic of a circus clown; comical, ridiculous.
2. (now rare) Pertaining to peasants; rustic.
3. (now rare) Uncultured, boorish; rough, coarse.

Example Sentences

Even worse, the zombies' clownish makeup, with a stark white base and black shoe polish around the eyes, looks amateurish.

Once again, City's defending was clownish. James McArthur drove into the area on the left and pulled a low cross towards the far post, where the horribly timid Gaël Clichy allowed Perch to bundle the ball past Costel Pantilimon.

Indeed, when in close quarters to Rooney, it must prove almost irresistible to stick a plastic moustache and silly clownish shoes on the potato-headed fool.

Large were his limbes, and terrible his looke, / And in his clownish hand a sharp bore speare he shooke.

"He is very plain, undoubtedly—remarkably plain:—but that is nothing compared with his entire want of gentility. I had no right to expect much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish, so totally without air. I had imagined him, I confess, a degree or two nearer gentility."

Synonyms for clownish

Antonyms for clownish

Related Words

Word Forms

• more clownish
• most clownish

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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