| English Dictionary |
UNDERBRED
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Dictionary entry overview: What does underbred mean?
• UNDERBRED (adjective)
The adjective UNDERBRED has 2 senses:
1. (of persons) lacking in refinement or grace
2. of inferior or mixed breed
Familiarity information: UNDERBRED used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
(of persons) lacking in refinement or grace
Synonyms:
bounderish; ill-bred; lowbred; rude; underbred; yokelish
Similar:
unrefined ((used of persons and their behavior) not refined; uncouth)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Of inferior or mixed breed
Context example:
an underbred dog
Similar:
crossbred (bred from parents of different varieties or species)
Context examples
A little upstart, vulgar being, with her Mr. E., and her caro sposo, and her resources, and all her airs of pert pretension and underbred finery.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
The men appeared to her all coarse, the women all pert, everybody underbred; and she gave as little contentment as she received from introductions either to old or new acquaintance.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
You base underbred clod!
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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