1
2
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
3
as in inexperienced
lacking in adult experience or maturity
recruiters like to say the military turns raw youths into responsible men and women
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
the day of the funeral turned out to be one of those bleak, blustery, raw winter days that was as gloomy as our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
evenings in those mountains, even during the summer, tend to be a little raw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
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
7
as in rampant
showing no signs of being under control
a frightening display of raw anger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in naked
lacking or shed of clothing
a pristine stretch of sand where beachgoers commonly sunbathe raw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
The MiG-25 also sacrificed maneuverability for raw speed.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
13 Jan. 2026
Once the nuts are washed, dried, de-husked and de-shelled, they can either be cooked or prepared raw.
—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for raw
Adjective
Inside one of those flip-top coolers, raw shell eggs measured 59 degrees, 18 degrees above maximum for proper food safety.
—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
The MiG-25 also sacrificed maneuverability for raw speed.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
Noun
They can even be blanched or used raw in salads.
—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
13 Jan. 2026
Once the nuts are washed, dried, de-husked and de-shelled, they can either be cooked or prepared raw.
—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for raw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raw
Adjective
-
The raw food diet emphasizes eating uncooked and minimally processed foods.
-
Cooked and uncooked shellfish — including their juices — should be kept separate to avoid contamination.
Adjective
-
So there’s already a natural connection between Steinbach and Anderson.
-
In their draft pick and salary cap reality, a trade seems possible, and the above teams would all be natural candidates for a variety of reasons.
Adjective
-
The subtext beneath that statement is that Syd recognizes why Tina might be loath to take orders from a boss who is younger and, relative to Carmy, inexperienced in the business.
-
Army investigations have repeatedly pointed to the same factors contributing to fatal training incidents including sleep deprivation, inadequate training and inexperienced leaders supervising high-risk exercises.
Adjective
-
Directed by Guadagnino from a screenplay by Saturday Night Live alum Simon Rich, Artificial explores Sam Altman’s OpenAI and the company’s turbulent period in 2023 when he was fired and rehired in a matter of days.
-
The trauma of a turbulent household had aged her beyond her years.
Adjective
-
Hearing that growl, that was bone chilling, but working with the jaguar was awesome.
-
Open-government advocates said the bill would have a chilling effect on the public’s ability to access records.
Adjective
-
So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods.
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.
Adjective
-
The report fueled rampant speculation as fans scrambled to scrutinize the duo's interactions in interviews and on the red carpet.
-
Wilde’s 2022 psychological thriller, headlined by Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, descended into tabloid chaos amid rampant speculation over an apparent feud between Pugh and Wilde, plus the romance between Wilde and Styles that allegedly originated during production.
Adjective
-
Cisgender Canadian gynephilic men were found to prefer naked pictures of cisgender women to those of cisgender men and of transgender women.
-
Rather than maximalist manicures, naked nail trends are dominating the discover feed.
Cite this Entry
“Raw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raw. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
