impertinent

adjective

impertinent remarks

Syn:

rude, insolent, impolite, ill-mannered, bad-mannered, uncivil, discourteous, disrespectful; impudent, cheeky, audacious, bold, brazen, brash, presumptuous, forward; tactless, undiplomatic; informal saucy, pert, sassy, smart-alecky

Ant:

polite

••

impertinent, impudent, insolent, intrusive, meddlesome, obtrusive

All of these adjectives mean exceeding the bounds of propriety; the easiest way to distinguish impertinent from the others is to think of its root: impertinent behavior is not pertinent — in other words, it is in or out of place. The impertinent individual has a tendency to be rude or presumptuous toward those who are entitled to deference or respect (it was an impertinent question to ask a woman who had just lost her husband). The intrusive person is unduly curious about other people's affairs (her constant questions about the state of their marriage were intrusive and unwelcome), while obtrusive implies objectionable actions rather than an objectionable disposition. The obtrusive person has a tendency to thrust himself or herself into a position where he or she is conspicuous and apt to do more harm than good (they tried to keep him out of the meeting because his presence would be obtrusive). To be meddlesome is to have a prying or inquisitive nature and a tendency to interfere in an annoying way in other people's affairs (a meddlesome neighbor). Impudent and insolent are much stronger words for in behavior. Young people are often accused of being impudent, which means to be impertinent in a bold and shameless way (an impudent young man who had a lot to learn about tact). Anyone who is guilty of insulting and contemptuously arrogant behavior might be called insolent (he was so insolent to the arresting officer that he was handcuffed).