ILL-BRED

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does ill-bred mean? 

• ILL-BRED (adjective)
  The adjective ILL-BRED has 1 sense:

1. (of persons) lacking in refinement or grace

  Familiarity information: ILL-BRED used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ILL-BRED (adjective)

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)

 Context examples 

It was ill-bred; it was wrong.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"Then you would be very ill-bred," cried Mr. Palmer.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I was very unwise to let you go among people of whom I know so little, kind, I dare say, but worldly, ill-bred, and full of these vulgar ideas about young people.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Such as Mrs. Elton appeared to her on this second interview, such she appeared whenever they met again,—self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother ill-bred.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

There is a spirit of irritation which, to say nothing worse, is certainly very ill-bred.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Elinor was not inclined, after a little observation, to give him credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill-natured or ill-bred as he wished to appear.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)