1
a
: obscene, vulgar
lewd remarks
b
: sexually unchaste or licentious (see licentious sense 1)
lewd behavior
2
obsolete : evil, wicked
lewdly adverb
lewdness noun

Examples of lewd in a Sentence

He made lewd remarks to the woman at the bar. bystanders were shocked by the lewd behavior of the couple in the park
Recent Examples on the Web He was subsequently convicted of a lewd act against a child and oral copulation of a person under 16, and spent 16 months in prison, The Hollywood Reporter said. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 In May 2004, Peck pleaded no contest to performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old and to oral copulation with a minor under 16. Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 Peck was arrested in August 2003 on a charge of lewd acts with a child. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024 He was subsequently convicted of a lewd act against a child and oral copulation of a person under 16, and spent 16 months in prison. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024 Themis Matsoukas, 64, was caught last summer exposing himself and performing lewd acts with a dog at Rothrock State Forest in Huntingdon County. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2024 He was arrested at his Atwater home and was also accused of other crimes such as stealing women’s shoes, trespassing and lewd acts, according to Bee reporting. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2024 Peck was arrested in August 2003 on a charge of lewd acts with a child, according to a press release from the Los Angeles Police Department. USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024 In 2003, he was arrested on charges of a lewd act against a child and oral copulation of a person under 16. Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lewd.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lewed vulgar, from Old English lǣwede laical, ignorant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of lewd was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lewd

Cite this Entry

“Lewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lewd. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lewd

adjective
1
: showing interest in sex in a rude manner
lewd behavior
2
: indecent
lewd remarks
lewdly adverb
lewdness noun

Legal Definition

lewd

adjective
: involving or being sexual conduct that is considered indecent or offensive : licentious
convicted of lewd and lascivious assault upon a childNational Law Journal
lewdly adverb
lewdness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lewd

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