discourteous
adjective C2
Plain meaning
rude or lacking politeness
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe rude or lacking politeness, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalHis response sounded discourteous, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a discourteous assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a discourteous responsediscourteous behavioura discourteous situation
Watch out
Do not use “very discourteous” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
discourteousness (noun, where natural)discourteously (adverb, where natural)