1
b
: sexually unchaste or licentious (see licentious sense 1)
lewd behavior
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
Salinas was convicted in June 2007 of lewd or lascivious acts on a minor, according to the criminal complaint.
—
City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Between 2019 and 2023, four girls and women between the ages of 15 and 21 told authorities Hobbs touched them on the butt, made lewd comments and, in one case, touched a teenager under her underwear, according to a criminal complaint.
—Mary Spicuzza, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Meridian resident Ryan Jenks, 46, pleaded guilty in September to one felony count of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
The case becomes political when a lewd painting of Maria de’ Medici, the daughter of the Duke of Florence, is found in Pontormo’s room.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lewd
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City News Service, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
Between 2019 and 2023, four girls and women between the ages of 15 and 21 told authorities Hobbs touched them on the butt, made lewd comments and, in one case, touched a teenager under her underwear, according to a criminal complaint.
—Mary Spicuzza, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Meridian resident Ryan Jenks, 46, pleaded guilty in September to one felony count of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
The case becomes political when a lewd painting of Maria de’ Medici, the daughter of the Duke of Florence, is found in Pontormo’s room.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lewd
Cite this Entry
“Lewd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lewd. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
lewd
adjective
: involving or being sexual conduct that is considered indecent or offensive : licentious
convicted of lewd and lascivious assault upon a child—National Law Journal
National Law Journal
lewdly
adverb
lewdness
noun
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