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as in raw
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining a sizable spill of crude oil along a coastline is the worst kind of environmental disaster

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective crude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crude are raw, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could raw be used to replace crude?

In some situations, the words raw and crude are roughly equivalent. However, raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When would rough be a good substitute for crude?

The words rough and crude can be used in similar contexts, but rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When might rude be a better fit than crude?

The synonyms rude and crude are sometimes interchangeable, but rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crude As of the most recent data, the U.S. is the world’s top crude oil producer — and the world’s largest producer for the past six years. Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2025 Tariffs of 10% remain in effect on Chinese imports, a move that sparked China's government to announce tariffs of 15% on U.S. coal and LNG and 10% on U.S. crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars and pickup trucks. Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025 China imposed retaliatory measures, including a 15% tariff on American coal and liquified natural-gas products as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars. Alana Semuels, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025 Reuters reported that Sargeant, a former Marine Corps pilot, flew to Caracas in November 2017 to meet with the Venezuelan president in hopes of cutting a deal to buy the country’s heavy crude oil for his new asphalt production company in New Jersey. Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crude
Adjective
  • Domestic cats have been known to carry bird flu since 2004, and studies have found that raw pet foods are far more likely to carry disease.
    Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Both cats had eaten the same brand of raw pet food before becoming ill, according to the notices.
    Kate Gibson, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.
    Joseph J. Kolb, Fox News, 18 July 2017
  • Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.
    OregonLive.com, OregonLive.com, 12 July 2017
Adjective
  • The footage shows Caldwell calling the nearby Packers fans vulgar and sexist names, while taunting the man accompanying her with explicit gestures.
    Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Michael Thomas Lewis, 55, let out multiple outbursts during his first appearance in court since he was arrested over the weekend and accused of making a series of vulgar, threatening online statements at Clark, the Indiana Fever superstar.
    Samira Puskar, NBC News, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Ak — who was previously accused of rape — was immediately faced with accusations of grooming, later admitting to his crass behavior.
    Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 27 Jan. 2025
  • After a decade as openers for regional musical acts, and only gradually incorporating often crass comedy into their act, Williams and Ree moved to Los Angeles and became regulars at the Comedy Store during the late 1970s.
    Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • What starts with a clumsy confession that threatened to derail their relationship altogether, ends with Mark and Helly closer than ever.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Take a deep breath because these claims form just one part of a clumsy web of viral content, in which Ronaldo, Messi and their children are part of the collateral.
    Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The body’s natural reaction is to lift the knee to stretch the leg out as far as possible.
    Jesse Granger, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The goal is to enhance natural capabilities or to interact with technology in new ways.8 Examples of Biohacking and Their Benefits Biohacking has not been extensively studied, so there is little concrete evidence of its effectiveness.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Boys from Syracuse), this very ’90s version of the classic fairytale features eye-popping costumes and sets, adorably rudimentary VFX, and a truly unbelievable cast (Brandy!
    Vogue, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025
  • First signs of rudimentary Valentine notes began appearing much later, in the 1500s, according to Britannica.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The truth about our involvement in Ukraine to oppose Russia is obscene.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The amount of cash being tossed around is obscene, and that’s part of what makes the show guiltily watchable.
    James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crude. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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