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nude

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noun

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body the artist painted some models in the nude

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective nude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nude are bald, bare, barren, and naked. While all these words mean "deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering," nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

In what contexts can bald take the place of nude?

While in some cases nearly identical to nude, bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

When is bare a more appropriate choice than nude?

While the synonyms bare and nude are close in meaning, bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

When can barren be used instead of nude?

The meanings of barren and nude largely overlap; however, barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

When would naked be a good substitute for nude?

The synonyms naked and nude are sometimes interchangeable, but naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

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 nude
Adjective
Photo: Getty Images Designed to mimic the effects of the elements, Meghan sported a natural dewy base with blusher angled up to the cheekbone, along with a matching glossy nude lip. Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2025 At a press conference ahead of the premiere on Monday, Patrick Schwarzenegger reflected on his nude scenes throughout the season and expressed mild apprehension about his family watching the show. Dan Heching, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
Three was not publicly disseminated during Warhol’s lifetime, shown only among his tight circle of friends: the equivalent of nudes among the homies. Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Feb. 2025 Packed with pigment, only a single swipe is needed, and its diverse shade range spans nudes and browns to pinks, reds and purples. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for nude

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Cite this Entry

“Nude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nude. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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