rube

noun

ˈrüb 

1

: an awkward unsophisticated person : rustic

2

: a naive or inexperienced person

Synonyms of rube

• hick
• bumpkin
• clown
• yokel
• hayseed
• peasant
• provincial

Examples of rube in a Sentence

They treated us as if we were a bunch of rubes.

rural voters were tired of being treated as rubes by state officials, who showed interest in them only at election time

Recent Examples on the Web

Dominique is in the ensemble as is a blond rube named Hunter (Kristine Froseth) who shows up at Elle’s doorstep in mall-wear denim and then upgrades to desperate, cleavage-baring sequins. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

The good news is that this future of an AI takeover is looking increasingly unlikely, at least at the industry’s current pace, a fact which is now dawning on some of the biggest rubes and dupes in the corporate world. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 8 July 2026

All those unsuspecting rubes with no idea what’s about to hit them. — Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026

Harry would be right to be bitter; Sally’s optimism was for rubes. — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Rube, nickname for Reuben

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rube

• boob
• cube
• lube
• tube
• hypercube
• nanotube
• phototube