If you describe a person's appearance or behaviour as clownish, you mean that they look or behave rather like a clown, and often that they appear rather foolish.
He had a clownish sense of humour.
...their clownish stupidity.
More Synonyms of clownish
Examples of 'clownish' in a sentence
clownish
A small, busy-looking woman with a mop of red curls that made her look slightly clownish, she smiled at Malone.
Cleary, Jon MURDER SONG
On either side of him the grotesque, clownish faces; set in the brilliant mosaic walls assumed a more menacing, protective aspect.
Hinxman, Margaret THE SOUND OF MURDER
I don't want the doll to have the wide, clownish smile some toy dolls have.
Andrews, Virginia WEB OF DREAMS
1 (adjective)
Synonyms
comic
foolish
It would be foolish to raise hopes unnecessarily.
zany
the zany humour of the Marx Brothers
slapstick
nonsensical
It seemed to me that Sir Robert's arguments were nonsensical.
galumphing (informal)
2 (adjective)
Synonyms
boorish
the boorish behaviour of some players
rough
He was rough and common.
awkward
She made an awkward gesture with her hands.
rude
a rude barbarian
clumsy
I'd never seen a clumsier, less coordinated boxer.
vulgar
He could be really vulgar, but he never swore in front of his parents.
rustic
churlish
It seemed churlish to refuse an offer meant so kindly.
ungainly
Paul swam in his ungainly way to the side of the pool.
uncivil
The shock of being addressed in such an uncivil tone was too much.
ill-bred
They seemed to her rather vulgar and ill-bred.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of awkward
Definition
clumsy or ungainly
She made an awkward gesture with her hands.
Synonyms
clumsy,
stiff,
rude,
blundering,
coarse,
bungling,
lumbering,
inept,
unskilled,
bumbling,
unwieldy,
ponderous,
ungainly,
gauche,
gawky,
uncouth,
unrefined,
artless,
inelegant,
uncoordinated,
graceless,
cack-handed (informal),
unpolished,
clownish,
oafish,
inexpert,
maladroit,
all thumbs,
ungraceful,
skill-less,
unskilful,
butterfingered (informal),
unhandy,
ham-fisted or ham-handed (informal),
unco (Australian, slang)
in the sense of churlish
Definition
surly and rude
It seemed churlish to refuse an offer meant so kindly.
Synonyms
rude,
harsh,
crabbed,
vulgar,
sullen,
surly,
morose,
brusque,
ill-tempered,
boorish,
uncouth,
impolite,
loutish,
oafish,
uncivil,
unmannerly
in the sense of clumsy
Definition
lacking in skill or physical coordination
I'd never seen a clumsier, less coordinated boxer.