GRACELESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does graceless mean? 

• GRACELESS (adjective)
  The adjective GRACELESS has 3 senses:

1. lacking graciousness

2. lacking grace; clumsy

3. lacking social polish

  Familiarity information: GRACELESS used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRACELESS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking graciousness

Context example:

a totally graceless hostess

Similar:

ungracious (lacking charm and good taste)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking grace; clumsy

Synonyms:

graceless; ungraceful

Context example:

his stature low...his bearing ungraceful

Similar:

awkward (lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance)

Derivation:

gracelessness (the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lacking social polish

Synonyms:

gauche; graceless; unpolished

Context example:

their excellent manners always made me feel gauche

Similar:

inelegant (lacking in refinement or grace or good taste)

Derivation:

gracelessness (the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment))

 Context examples 

“You, a graceless baggage, a foolish lack-brain, with no thought above the hemming of shifts. And he so kindly and hendy and long-suffering! You would—ha, you may well flee the room!”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Indeed, my lord, they are very cruel and black-hearted men, graceless and ruthless, and if they should come to the ancient and powerful town of Lepe then—

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There was dancing now on the canvas in the garden, old men pushing young girls backward in eternal graceless circles, superior couples holding each other tortuously, fashionably and keeping in the corners—and a great number of single girls dancing individualistically or relieving the orchestra for a moment of the burden of the banjo or the traps.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)