raw 1 of 2

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as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining raw sugar is honey-colored because the crystals retain cane juices, minerals, and other impurities that haven't been refined out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin bundle up if you're going sailing, as there's a raw wind out there in the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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raw

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noun

as in nudity
the state of having no clothes on one's body a secluded swimming hole where we could swim in the raw

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective raw differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of raw are crude, rough, and rude. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

When might crude be a better fit than raw?

The words crude and raw can be used in similar contexts, but crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When could rough be used to replace raw?

The meanings of rough and raw largely overlap; however, rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

When is rude a more appropriate choice than raw?

The words rude and raw are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 raw
Adjective
The company is the first human-grade raw food for dogs, created in 2019 by Katie Spies, an MIT engineer and dog parent. Alexandra Pastore, WWD, 18 Feb. 2025 Seattle is an extremely difficult place to hit, so the ugly raw numbers can paint a somewhat misleading picture, but Solano is a 37-year-old first baseman who hasn’t slugged above .425 since 2020 and Polanco needed a late push just to get his OPS above .650 last year. Chad Jennings, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Noun
Employee cracked a raw shelled egg with gloved hands then handled a clean plate and kitchen utensils without washing hands between tasks. Ebony Day, azcentral, 25 Dec. 2019 Tim RoneyGetty Images Her 1995 raw, ragey, best-selling album, Jagged Little Pill, spoke to a generation—and inspired a musical of the same name, opening on Broadway this month. Alanis Morissette, Marie Claire, 8 Nov. 2019 See All Example Sentences for raw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raw
Adjective
  • Anything that's uncooked or undercooked may fall in that category.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Last Friday, the F.D.A. announced new rules that require companies making pet food containing certain uncooked or unpasteurized ingredients to update their food safety plans to account for the potential hazards of bird flu.
    Emily Anthes, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • While crude oil was the largest import for Alabama in 2023, automobile and automobile parts followed right behind.
    Jennifer Lindahl, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
  • The Midstream segment provides crude oil and refined petroleum product transportation, terminaling and processing services, as well as natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) transportation, storage, fractionation, gathering, processing and marketing service.
    Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The 1999 killing Syed and Lee both attended Woodlawn High School and had dated, broken up, reunited and broken up again in a relationship an appeals court described as turbulent.
    Chloe Atkins, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
  • His childhood was turbulent—his parents' frequent fights sometimes turned physical, with his father directing his frustrations at young Gene.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Although few may recognize his name, the footage of Hill, captured on Abraham Zapruder's chilling home movie of the shooting, provided some of the most indelible images of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
    CBS News, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Although few may recognize his name, the footage of Hill, captured on Abraham Zapruder’s chilling home movie of the assassination, provided some of the most indelible images of Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.
    Jack Dura, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, 72 hours after being purged because they were considered probationary workers, a biting reality has set in for many of them.
    CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
  • For example, a trip to Everglades National Park at the peak of summer could overlap with hurricane season or generally have higher biting insect activity and humid heat.
    Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a didactic, Brechtian structure to the movie — Brecht is cited several times in the dialogue — in which Jude asks the viewer to question what the death of Ion means in a society wracked by rampant capitalism, racist nationalism and religious extremism.
    Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Musk has claimed there is rampant fraud taking place at the SSA, including payments being made to millions of long-dead recipients, which has been widely disputed.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The smoldering lava looks gray to the naked eye, but the hot areas pop out in the thermal view.
    Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • The indictment was handed down after technicians at a national Best Buy facility in Kentucky, known as Geek Squad City, discovered what prosecutors described as a photo of a naked, prepubescent girl while fixing Rettenmaier’s broken computer and notified local FBI agents.
    Scott Schwebke, Orange County Register, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In modern business, where metrics and bottom lines take center stage, genuine human connection is a rare and undervalued commodity.
    Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The hefty fish tacos — swordfish, tuna (cooked pretty rare), and wahoo — are served on corn tortillas with cabbage, salsa and a lime crema drizzled on top.
    Kate Murphy, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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