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as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining rude pelts that were sent to Europe to be fashioned into elegant hats and coats

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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rude people
impolite people
bad-mannered people
nasty people
unkind people
a rude gesture
an impolite gesture
an offensive gesture
a vulgar gesture
a nasty gesture
a gross gesture
rude behavior
impolite behavior
disrespectful behavior
nasty behavior
unpleasant behavior
poor behavior
rude treatment
inconsiderate treatment
disrespectful treatment
ungracious treatment
discourteous treatment
impolite treatment

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rude are crude, raw, and rough. While all these words mean "lacking in social refinement," rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

Where would crude be a reasonable alternative to rude?

The words crude and rude are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

When would raw be a good substitute for rude?

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

turning raw youths into polished performers

When is rough a more appropriate choice than rude?

The synonyms rough and rude are sometimes interchangeable, but rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

Examples 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 rude Pretty sure no one at HGTV told you to be rude to me. Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025 Pretty sure no one at HGTV told you to be rude to me…. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025 Less than one day into 2025, the superstar has already punched in with one of her characteristic comebacks, shutting down a troll who demanded new music and called her a rude name on Instagram Wednesday (Jan. 1). Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Jan. 2025 Several replies praised the user for taking such direct action against someone who was rude to them. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rude 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rude
Adjective
  • In a moment when Liston was hurling a clumsy punch and his balance was susceptible, Ali threw what looked like a swiping right graze at his opponent’s head.
    Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Even observers who think the outlook for China’s economy is less dire agree that its growth is slowing and will be constrained by structural challenges and a clumsy policymaking process.
    Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 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
  • Trump — with his crass words and absurd policy proposals — has had progressives playing defense for nearly the last decade.
    Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Of course, with Burr, there’s still plenty of lines crossed and joyously crass humor.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet the real struggle between red and blue bears little resemblance to the flamboyant melodrama narrated by partisans, in which each side fights to defend humanity against a barbarian horde.
    Matthew Karp, Harper's Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024
  • Steve muses, as the clip cuts to barbarian humanoid pigs attacking a city.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Steph Curry was ignorant of the NBA history at stake.
    Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Russia, Iran, and many other countries criticize U.S. military interventions as arrogant, ignorant of local context, and unable to fashion either stable regimes or effective security structures.
    Alexander Baunov, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Unity is a crude oil tanker that is 245.07 meters (approximately 804 feet) long and 42 meters (approximately 137 feet) wide, according to MarineTraffic.com.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
  • China’s crude oil imports fell nearly 2% in 2024, marking the first annual drop in two decades, except for during the Covid pandemic.
    Laura Paddison, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Piñeiro should have a decent market, despite having a rough second half of the season.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Reed, who was challenged by Hurley after his stretch of rough outings, ripped an offensive rebound from the arms of Butler’s Pierre Brooks five minutes in and finished a layup.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The most rudimentary method is something anyone with a computer can do at home: asking a chatbot to produce many responses to a single question.
    Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Macondo 0-1, as it is called, the rudimentary village of Macondo, was built at Garanchal Ranch, Venadillo, a 20-minute drive north go Alvardo, on the edge of the Magdalena River, Colombia’s longest, in Tolima.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near rude

Cite this Entry

“Rude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rude. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rude

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