UNGRACIOUS

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does ungracious mean? 

• UNGRACIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective UNGRACIOUS has 2 senses:

1. lacking charm and good taste

2. lacking social graces

  Familiarity information: UNGRACIOUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNGRACIOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking charm and good taste

Context example:

ungracious behavior

Similar:

churlish (rude and boorish)

graceless (lacking graciousness)

Also:

unrefined ((used of persons and their behavior) not refined; uncouth)

Antonym:

gracious (characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking social graces

Synonyms:

discourteous; ungracious

Similar:

impolite (not polite)

Derivation:

ungraciousness (an offensive lack of good manners)

 Context examples 

"He does very well, for a boy," was Meg's somewhat ungracious answer, for the subject did not interest her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

This, though late, and reluctant, and ungracious, was yet better than nothing, and her spirits improved.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The other replied with an ungracious grunt, but swung alongside.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He had all the clearness and quickness of mind which she wanted, and he could sometimes act an ungracious, or say a severe thing.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He shrugged his shoulders in ungracious acquiescence, while our visitor in hurried words and with much excitable gesticulation poured forth his story.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Miss Bertram's attention and opinion was evidently his chief aim; and though her deportment showed rather conscious superiority than any solicitude to oblige him, the mention of Sotherton Court, and the ideas attached to it, gave her a feeling of complacency, which prevented her from being very ungracious.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Ungracious girl!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such a state of mind.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Oh! how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)