What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
discourteous
Example
It's discourteous to interrupt someone when they're speaking. [discourteous: adjective]
Example
The waiter's discourteous behavior towards the customers led to a complaint. [discourteous: adjective]
disrespectful
Example
It's disrespectful to talk back to your parents. [disrespectful: adjective]
Example
The graffiti on the monument was seen as disrespectful towards the country's history. [disrespectful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disrespectful is more commonly used than discourteous in everyday language. Disrespectful is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while discourteous is less common and tends to be used in more formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between discourteous and disrespectful?
Discourteous is typically associated with a more formal tone, while disrespectful can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
